Cover Belt Conveyor With Driven Rollers for Vertical Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems for vertical or steep conveying of goods are limited by maximum forces that can be transmitted, leading to restricted conveying heights and throughput, difficulty in handling sticky materials, and challenges in cleaning and uniformity of the conveying flow, with intermediate drives being inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A cover belt conveyor system with driven roller-shaped elements that adjust contact pressure and drive power based on real-time measurements, allowing for continuous conveying of sticky materials, upward and downward movement, and greater conveying heights by using intermediate drives independent of load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional cover belt conveyors are used with head drums driving the belts, then continuous conveying of sticky materials is achieved, but the conveying height is limited by maximum permissible belt tension
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into multiple independent drive units distributed along the conveying path. Each drive unit has its own drive drum and belt section, allowing local acceleration without requiring excessive tension in the entire belt system. This segmentation enables greater conveying heights while maintaining manageable belt tension levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs adjustable pressing devices that can dynamically adjust the contact pressure between the belts and the material. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying load conditions and conveying heights, optimizing both the conveying capability and belt tension management in real-time.
2Strength
If intermediate drives are added to increase conveying height, then greater heights are achieved, but the system becomes more complex and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The drive units are designed to serve multiple functions: they provide propulsion for the belts, apply pressing force to the material through the pressing devices, and can operate independently to handle various conveying scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate intermediate drive mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while maintaining the capability for high conveying heights.
3Productivity
If deck belt conveyors are used for sticky goods, then continuous conveying is achieved, but transfers require complex designs and high maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing devices are designed to self-adjust and maintain optimal contact pressure with the material based on feedback from sensors. The drive units can independently regulate their operation, reducing the need for manual intervention and maintenance. This self-service capability simplifies maintenance requirements while maintaining continuous conveying efficiency for sticky materials.
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
Enables continuous, efficient, and clean conveying of materials over significant heights with improved throughput and flexibility, reducing belt tension and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a rotary drive engages at least one of the roller-shaped elements, allowing traction forces to be transferred to the carrying belt and/or cover belt
Implementation Method 2
a pressing device should act on each of the roller-shaped elements, which is designed to exert compressive forces on the respective outer surface of the carrying belt and cover belt
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The cover belt conveyor is provided with a respective support belt (5) designed as a continuous belt and a cover belt (6), which are each guided around a deflection drum (7 and 8) and a respective rotatable drive drum (9 and 10), such that they are guided opposite one another in a steep or perpendicular conveying region, and such that a conveyor belt can be conveyed between the support belt (5) and the cover belt (6) with a translational movement of the support belt (5) and the cover belt (6) in the direction of the respective drive drum (9 and 10). In the steep or perpendicular conveying region (11), cylindrical elements (1.1 and 1.2) are arranged in pairs in contact with the outer surface of the support belt (5) and the cover belt (6) on opposite sides with the application of a compressive force, which are rotatably mounted at a right angle to the conveying direction, and a rotational drive engages on at least one of the cylindrical elements (1.1 and/or 1.2) of a pair. With these, traction forces can be transmitted in the conveying direction or in the opposite direction onto the support belt (5) and/or the cover belt (6).