Drive Belt Connecting Device for Hygienic Tension-Resistant Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive belt connecting devices often exert clamping forces that deform the belt surface and fail to meet hygiene requirements, limiting their flexibility and durability, especially in applications like the food processing industry where contamination must be avoided.
Innovation Solution
A compact drive belt connecting device with a connecting chamber arranged along the longitudinal dimension, featuring outer and inner connecting parts with opposing surfaces for a positive-locking engagement without clamping force, allowing for tension-resistant connection and easy cleaning, and incorporating a fastening mechanism that adjusts the distance between these surfaces for secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If known belt connecting devices use clamping plates with fastening elements to produce clamp connection, then positive-locking engagement is achieved, but the surface profile of the belt is deformed and tensile strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connecting element as an intermediary component that mediates between the clamping plate and the belt end sections. This connecting element has a connecting section that engages with the belt surface profile positively without exerting clamping force on the belt itself, thereby maintaining both positive-locking engagement and belt strength
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting device is segmented into distinct functional components: a clamping plate for securing, a connecting element for positive-locking engagement with the belt profile, and a fastening mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the belt's surface profile
2Reliability
If belt connecting devices are designed with clamping plates and fastening elements, then connection is secured, but hygiene requirements are not met and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is designed with a streamlined, smooth-surfaced structure that resembles a flexible shell form, allowing it to conform to the belt surface profile without creating sharp corners, recesses, or undercuts where residues could accumulate, thus meeting hygiene requirements
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the clamping plate directly contact and clamp the belt ends (which creates contamination risks), the design inverts the approach by having the connecting element engage the belt surface profile from the inside, while the clamping plate secures the connecting element without直接接触 the belt ends
3Reliability
If belt connecting devices use snap couplings for positive-locking engagement, then connection is secured, but protrusions or undercuts are created that deform the belt surface
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element serves as a mediator that translates the positive-locking engagement requirement into a form that does not deform the belt surface. It engages the belt surface profile through its connecting section while its outer surface remains smooth and free of protrusions or undercuts
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element has different local qualities: its connecting section is designed to engage the belt surface profile positively, while its outer surface is designed to be smooth and free of protrusions. This local differentiation allows it to fulfill both positive-locking and surface preservation requirements
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive belt connecting device for the tension-resistant connection of flat drive belt end sections (93, 94), which drive belt connecting device comprises a multi-part connecting body (41), which has connecting parts (1, 2, 3) and a connecting chamber (42), which accommodates the drive belt end sections (93, 94), which have at least one first belt flat side having a belt surface profile (911) in an overlapping arrangement for tension-resistant connection. A first outer connecting part (1) and a second outer connecting part (2) bound the connecting chamber (42), in which an inner connecting part (3) having inner connecting surfaces (301, 302) is arranged. The inner connecting surfaces and outer connecting surfaces (101, 201) of the outer connecting parts (1, 2) can be placed onto the drive belt end sections (93, 94). A fastening means (5) fastens the outer connecting parts (1, 2) to each other at a limited fixed distance. An inner connecting means (30) connects the inner connecting part (3) to at least one of the two outer connecting parts (1, 2) for connection that is secure in the belt tension direction. A flat drive belt (90) is connected to a circulating continuous flat drive belt (90) by means of at least one said drive belt connecting device (4). A conveying device (7) comprises two such drive belts (901, 902), which can be guided and driven along a conveying path (78) and a return path (79) to circulate together and in parallel, wherein one conveyor belt (75) is formed by a series of transport elements (73) arranged in parallel and transport blocks (74) fastened onto the two drive belts (901, 902) to support said transport elements. Connecting bodies (41) of the drive belt connecting devices (4) are configured as transport blocks (74).