Feed Chain Conveyor Roller Guide Rail Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional feed chain conveyors are unsuitable for accurately conveying heavy workpieces such as logs or boards to a circular saw due to induced vibrations, leading to deficiencies in the finished products.
Innovation Solution
A feed chain conveyor system with a frame, guide rails, and an endless loop feed chain featuring slats perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, where alternating slats have rollers at opposite ends to mate with guide rails, limiting lateral movement and reducing friction, ensuring linear delivery of workpieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional feed chain conveyor with hardened fixed guide rail and cast or hardened steel feed chain is used, then the conveyor can move the board through the saw, but the system requires lubrication between the mating surfaces to reduce friction and extend the life of the conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lubrication requirement from the conveyor system by replacing the sliding contact mechanism with a rolling contact mechanism. The feed chain is designed with rollers that rotate instead of slide against the guide rails, eliminating the need for lubrication while maintaining reliable operation and extending conveyor life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the sliding friction-based mechanical system with a rolling friction-based mechanical system. By incorporating rollers into the feed chain design, the system replaces the need for lubricated sliding contact with self-contained rolling contact, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability.
2Productivity
If a conventional feed chain conveyor is used to convey heavy workpieces such as logs or boards, then the conveyor can deliver the workpiece to the saw, but the heavy workpieces induce vibrations which lead to deficiencies in the finished products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the feed chain into multiple independent roller units distributed along the chain. Each roller independently contacts the guide rails, distributing the load and reducing vibration transmission. This segmentation allows heavy workpieces to be conveyed smoothly without inducing vibrations that would compromise cut quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers serve as intermediary elements between the feed chain and the guide rails. Instead of direct sliding contact that transmits vibrations, the rollers mediate the interaction by converting sliding friction to rolling friction, thereby reducing vibration transmission while maintaining effective workpiece delivery.
3Manufacturing precision
If the feed chain contacts the board to create a fixture for straight cutting, then the board progresses at constant velocity, but acceleration or motion vibration of the board impacts the quality of the cut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding contact mechanism with a rolling contact mechanism where the feed chain rollers rotate along the guide rails. This substitution eliminates the vibration and acceleration effects associated with sliding friction, allowing the board to move at constant velocity without compromising cut quality while maintaining the necessary fixture for straight cutting.
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 system achieves precise and efficient delivery of heavy workpieces by minimizing vibrations and reducing friction, enhancing the quality of cuts made by circular saws.
Implementation Method 1
At least one roller is connected with a pivot pin at one end of each slat. The roller is supported on the guide rail.
Data Source
AI summary
A feed chain conveyor includes a plurality of slats having rollers on opposite ends of adjacent slats that ride on guide rails of a conveyor to deliver workpieces in a linear manner while reducing friction. The roller and guide rail arrangement ensures that workpieces are accurately delivered to a processing station. The guide rails are connected with upper sides of the conveyor frame and extend parallel to the direction of delivery of the workpieces. The rollers are configured to interact with the guide rails to allow movement of the feed chain in the delivery direction with only limited displacement in a direction orthogonal to the delivery direction.