Conveyor Tail Assembly with Pivotable Plates for Belt Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor assemblies face challenges in efficiently managing belt tension and alignment, particularly at the tail assembly, which can lead to belt misalignment and increased wear, affecting the overall performance and reliability of the conveyor system.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor assembly incorporates a tail assembly with pivotable second side plates that define slots for a shaft, allowing for adjustable tensioning through fasteners, and includes a belt guide to ensure smooth transitions and proper belt alignment, along with a frame assembly that supports the belt and items, using a combination of side rails, cross-brace members, and deck members to maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tail assembly uses fixed side plates, then the structure is simple and stable, but the belt tension cannot be adjusted leading to misalignment and increased wear
Solution Approach 1:
The tail assembly incorporates pivotable second side plates that can rotate relative to the first side plates, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one. This allows the tail assembly to adapt to belt tension variations and maintain proper alignment, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and alignment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces adjustable parameters through the pivotable side plates and tensioning fasteners, enabling modification of the tail assembly geometry. This allows optimization of belt tension and alignment parameters without fundamentally changing the overall structure, balancing simplicity with reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the second side plates are made pivotable, then belt tension can be adjusted, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable second side plates provide dynamic adjustment capability, allowing operators to easily modify belt tension by rotating the plates. This mechanical adjustment mechanism simplifies operation while adding only moderate structural complexity compared to fixed alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The tail assembly is segmented into first side plates and pivotable second side plates as separate components. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the second plates to achieve proper tensioning, making the adjustment process simpler and more manageable despite the increased structural complexity.
3Reliability
If proper belt alignment is maintained, then wear is reduced, but this requires complex alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable second side plates automatically adapt to maintain proper belt alignment through their rotational capability. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the need for complex fixed alignment mechanisms, achieving reliable operation with simpler structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The tail assembly structure itself provides the alignment function through the pivotable side plates, eliminating the need for separate complex alignment mechanisms. The structure serves its own alignment needs, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor assembly may include a frame assembly comprising: a pair of side rails; a plurality of cross brace members coupled to the side rails; a plurality of deck members coupled to the plurality of cross-brace members, the deck members positioned between the pair of side rails; and a tail assembly mounted at a first end of the frame assembly, the tail assembly comprising: a pair of first side plates coupled to the side rails; a pair of second side plates, where each of the second side plates is coupled to one of the first side plates, the second side plates are configured to selectively pivot with respect to the first side plates, where each of the second side plates define a slot arranged to receive a shaft; and a plurality of tail pulleys rotatably coupled to the shaft and positioned between the second side plates.