Integrated Conveyor Belt Washer-Dryer for Fluid Containment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belt washing and drying systems fail to fully dry the belt and contain/collect removed fluid, often requiring separate units that occupy additional space and complicate installation, especially in food preparation applications where cleanliness is critical.
Innovation Solution
A combined washer/dryer unit with a housing containing a washing station and a drying station, separated by spray barriers to prevent wash liquid from entering the drying area, featuring rotatable washing heads and adjustable air knives that discharge pressurized air to effectively dry the conveyor belt while minimizing fluid discharge into the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate washing and drying apparatuses are used, then washing and drying functions can be performed, but additional floor space is occupied and installation is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the washing station and drying station into a single integrated conveyor belt treatment apparatus. The washing station includes spray nozzles that discharge wash liquid onto the conveyor belt, while the drying station uses air knives to remove moisture. These two previously separate functions are now merged into one compact unit that processes the conveyor belt sequentially through washing and drying zones within a single housing structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate washing and drying apparatuses are used, then washing and drying functions can be performed, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional components including the washing station with spray nozzles, the drying station with air knives, support rollers, and housing structures into a single modular apparatus. This consolidation reduces the number of separate installations required and simplifies the overall setup process while maintaining both washing and drying capabilities.
3Reliability
If conventional drying methods are used, then some drying effect is achieved, but the conveyor belt cannot be fully dried
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs air knives in the drying station that utilize high-velocity compressed air streams to forcefully remove moisture from the conveyor belt surface. The air knives are positioned to blow air across the belt width, effectively stripping water and achieving complete drying that conventional passive drying methods cannot accomplish.
4Ease of operation
If washing station discharges wash liquid freely, then washing function is performed, but excess fluid spray and discharge occur into the surrounding environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and contains the wash liquid discharge within a controlled environment by enclosing the washing station within a housing structure. The housing directs and contains the spray patterns, preventing excess wash liquid from dispersing into the surrounding environment while still allowing effective washing of the conveyor belt through controlled nozzle positioning and spray direction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated unit efficiently washes and dries the conveyor belt within an enclosed space, reducing excess fluid spray and discharge, and simplifies installation by combining functions into a single, compact unit.
Implementation Method 1
The drying station includes one or more air knife/knives and one or more tracks. The one or more air knife/knives discharge(s) pressurized air into the passage
Implementation Method 2
The one or more washing heads are preferably rotatable and discharge a wash liquid into the passage in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor belt washer/dryer that includes a housing, which encloses a washing station separated by one or more spray barriers from a drying station. The housing has a passage that is sized and configured to allow the conveyor belt to successively pass through the washing station and the drying station. The washing station includes one or more washing heads, a splash plate and a reservoir. The washing heads discharge a wash liquid onto the top surface of the conveyor belt and the splash plate redirects the wash liquid onto the bottom surface. The reservoir collects the spent wash liquid. The drying station includes one or more air knife/knives that discharge(s) pressurized air onto the conveyor belt to dry the belt.