Helical Conveyor Slat Stability via Segmented Roller Guide
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems face challenges in maintaining stability and preventing slats from jumping up during operation, especially when navigating reverse curves, which affects the efficient conveyance of products in vertical directions.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor system incorporates a second guide face located between the inner and outer axes of rotation, with additional support from a third guide face directed downward to enhance stability, and uses a connecting member like a roller chain to support the conveyor belt, ensuring proper alignment and reduced slat movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the conveyor belt navigates reverse curves using only outer rollers, then the structure is simpler, but slats tend to jump up and stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The roller support system is segmented into inner rollers and outer rollers, with each type positioned at specific locations along the slat. This segmentation allows the inner rollers to engage with the first guide face while outer rollers engage with the second guide face, distributing support forces to prevent slat jumping up during curve navigation
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting member acts as an intermediary element that couples adjacent slats together. This intermediary component transmits forces between slats and engages with both guide faces, providing additional stability and preventing slat separation or jumping up during operation on helical tracks
2Volume of moving object
If the second guide face is located between inner and outer rollers, then compact building is achieved, but guidance precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide faces are arranged in different radial dimensions - the first guide face is positioned radially outward while the second guide face is positioned radially inward between the inner and outer rollers. This dimensional arrangement allows compact building by utilizing the radial space efficiently while maintaining proper guidance through the helical track
3Reliability
If multiple guide faces are used to prevent slat jumping, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting member serves multiple functions: it couples adjacent slats together, provides additional guidance engagement with both guide faces, and prevents slat separation. This multi-functional design improves stability without proportionally increasing complexity, as a single component performs multiple stabilizing roles
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
A conveyor for conveying products in vertical direction comprises a frame (1) and a drivable conveyor belt (8) being supported by the frame and following a helical track in a direction of conveyance about a central centreline (2a). The conveyor belt is provided with slats (9) which are movable with respect to each other and have a support face at their upper sides. Inner rollers (14) and outer rollers (15) are present at the lower side of the conveyor belt, which rollers are rotatable about inner axes of rotation (16) and outer axes of rotation (17), respectively, which are angled with respect to the support face and wherein the outer rollers are located at a larger distance from the central centreline than the inner rollers. The frame is provided with a first guide face(18) for supporting the outer rollers in outward direction with respect to the central centreline which first guide face is radially directed in outward direction and with an upwardly directed second guide face(19) for supporting the conveyor belt in upward direction, which second guide face lies at a distance from the first guide face.