Inflatable Roller for Conveyor Tension Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems face inefficiencies due to increased friction and reduced tension over time, requiring complex adjustments to maintain effective conveying, especially when handling different types of objects, often necessitating disassembly or additional mechanisms to adjust roller distance.
Innovation Solution
A roller design featuring an inflatable cushion between a rigid metal inner circle and flexible rubber outer circle, allowing the outer diameter to increase with air inflation, thereby adjusting tension without disassembling other mechanisms, using an air nozzle for inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distance between two rollers is increased to adjust conveyor tension, then the tension degree of the conveyor is adjusted, but the structure of the conveying device is complicated and the adjustment efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by introducing an inflatable cushion between the inner and outer circles of the roller. By inflating or deflating this cushion with air, the roller's outer diameter can be adjusted, which in turn adjusts the conveyor tension. This pneumatic mechanism replaces complex mechanical adjustment systems, achieving simple and efficient tension control without complicating the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the roller's outer diameter by controlling the inflation state of the cushion. By adjusting the air pressure within the cushion, the roller diameter varies, thereby adjusting the conveyor tension. This parameter-based adjustment method provides a simple and efficient control mechanism without requiring structural modifications or additional components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the roller distance is adjusted to meet different conveying requirements, then the conveyor adapts to different objects, but other mechanisms must be disassembled or additional controlling mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic inflation and deflation of the cushion to enable quick adjustment of the roller diameter. This allows the conveyor to adapt to different objects and tension requirements without disassembling other mechanisms or installing additional controlling devices. The pneumatic system provides a simple, integrated solution that maintains ease of operation while enhancing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the roller diameter dynamic rather than fixed. The inflatable cushion allows the roller to change its outer diameter according to the conveying requirements, enabling the system to adapt to different objects dynamically. This dynamic adjustment capability is achieved without requiring disassembly or additional controlling mechanisms, maintaining operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If the conveyor is used for a period of time, then the conveyor slows down due to aging and impurities, but the roller cannot drive the conveyor when friction is low or objects are light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the roller's outer diameter parameter by controlling the cushion inflation. When the conveyor slows down due to aging or impurities, the roller diameter can be increased through cushion inflation to enhance the friction between the roller and conveyor, ensuring reliable driving. Conversely, when friction is low or objects are light, the diameter can be adjusted to maintain optimal conveying efficiency, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
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 convenient and efficient adjustment of conveyor tension by increasing the roller diameter with air inflation, simplifying the process and saving labor and time, ensuring consistent conveying performance without disassembling other mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
an inflatable cushion arranged between the inner circle and the outer circle, and a volume of the inflatable cushion changing as air charge inflated thereinto changes
Implementation Method 2
the outer circle is made of flexible hard rubber, the inflatable cushion is a soft and sealed sleeve surrounding an exterior of the inner circle
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a roller and a conveying device. The roller includes an inner circle, an outer circle, and an inflatable cushion arranged between the inner circle and the outer circle with the volume thereof changing as air charge inflated thereinto changes. by adjusting the air charge of the inflatable cushion, the outer diameter of the roller is increased as the air charge inflated into the inflatable cushion increases, at the same time, the conveyor surrounding the exterior of the roller is tightened to increase the tension degree of the conveyor without disassembling other mechanisms of the conveying device, which is simply operated to be capable of saving labors and time.