Helical Spacer for Conveyor Belt Drying Machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drying machines for poultry litter suffer from complex cleaning processes due to corner areas that accumulate dirt, require labor-intensive assembly with multiple tubular spacers, and have inefficient air passage designs.

Innovation Solution

The drying machine features a supporting frame with rollers surrounded by single helical bodies with spaced turns, optimizing air passage and simplifying cleaning and assembly by eliminating corners and using a single helical spring or wire to support the conveyor belts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tubular cage-like bodies with radial annular prominences are used as spacers, then the air passage space is defined between roller and belt, but corner areas accumulate dirt requiring time-consuming cleaning operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying optimizationVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the tubular cage-like bodies with radial annular prominences with a helical body that has a continuous curved surface. This curved geometry eliminates corner areas where dirt could accumulate, making the spacer easy to clean while maintaining the air passage space function between the roller and conveyor belt.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the problematic corner areas from the spacer design. By using a helical body instead of tubular segments with prominences, the design removes the corners that cause dirt accumulation, thereby solving the cleaning difficulty without compromising the drying function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If multiple tubular cage-like bodies are assembled on each roller, then the air passage space is created, but the assembly process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying optimizationVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate tubular cage-like bodies into a single integrated helical body. This unified structure performs the same function of defining air passage spaces but eliminates the need for assembling multiple components, thereby reducing assembly complexity and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

While the overall structure is unified, the helical body is formed with spaced turns that create discrete air passage spaces. This segmentation of the continuous helical structure maintains the functional benefits of multiple spacers while avoiding their assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If tubular cage-like bodies with radial annular prominences are used, then the belt is supported at specific points, but numerous corner areas require frequent washing to prevent bacterial formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebelt supportVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The helical body's continuous curved surface eliminates corner areas where moisture and dirt could accumulate and promote bacterial growth. The smooth geometry allows for easier washing and better hygiene maintenance while continuing to support the conveyor belt effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of corner areas (which trap moisture and promote bacteria) into a benefit by designing a smooth helical surface that prevents accumulation. The same geometric features that could have created problems are transformed into cleaning advantages through the continuous curved surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design results in a machine that is easier to clean, enhances air passage efficiency, and simplifies assembly by reducing the number of components needed, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

said rollers being surrounded by spacers which are adapted to define, between the rollers and the belt, air passage spaces to optimize the drying of the conveyed substances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir passage: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The belts installed in the various levels of the system are perforated so as to allow air to pass through the layer of litter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow through perforations: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

The litter is dried by the air expelled by the fans of the shed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS10337795B2Drying machine for pasty and/or granular substances and spacer for rollers of conveyor belts for such drying machine

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 OFFICINE FACCO & C

AI summary

A drying machine for pasty and/or granular substances, which comprises a supporting frame for a plurality of superimposed conveyor belts, the frame being provided with lateral openings for the passage of air, each conveyor belt being supported by a plurality of spaced rollers which are pivoted to the frame, the rollers being surrounded by spacers which are adapted to define, between the rollers and the belt, air passage spaces to optimize the drying of the conveyed substances, each roller being surrounded by a single helical body with spaced turns that define the air passage space between the roller and the belt.