Conveyor Internal Bands for Roller Pinch Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems with exposed connecting belts and rollers pose risks of objects or body parts getting caught or pinched, leading to disruptions and potential injuries.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system design where the drive shaft, bearings, and drive belts are disposed between or within frames, protected by covers, preventing access from lateral sides and minimizing exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If connecting belts and rollers are exposed on the sides of the conveyor system, then the conveyor system can be easily assembled and maintained, but objects or body parts may get caught or pinched between the rollers and connecting belts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the connecting belts from the exposed external position and relocates them to an internal position between the rollers. This extraction removes the harmful element from the accessible area while preserving its functional connection role, thereby eliminating the pinching hazard without compromising the belt's purpose.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting belts are nested within the space between the rollers, placing the previously exposed belt inside the existing structural envelope of the conveyor system. This nesting integrates the belt into the internal architecture, protecting it from external contact while maintaining its connecting function.
2Device complexity
If connecting belts are exposed on the conveyor system, then the structure can be simpler and easier to access, but safety risks increase due to potential pinching hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting belts are extracted from the exposed external location and repositioned internally between the rollers. This extraction eliminates the safety hazard while the belts remain functionally accessible for maintenance through the roller ends, balancing safety with operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the connecting belts from a two-dimensional external exposure to a three-dimensional internal position between the rollers. This dimensional relocation hides the belts from lateral access while preserving their functional connectivity, thereby improving safety without significantly complicating the overall structure.
3Device complexity
If the conveyor system uses exposed O-ring belts for connecting rollers, then the system can be more straightforward in design, but it creates pinching hazards that disrupt conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The O-ring belts are extracted from their exposed external position and relocated to an internal position between the rollers. This extraction eliminates the pinching hazard that causes conveyance disruptions while maintaining the belts' essential connecting function, thereby preserving productivity without overly complicating the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-ring belts are nested within the internal space between the rollers, integrating them into the conveyance path's internal architecture. This nesting protects the belts from external interference and eliminates pinching hazards while maintaining straightforward belt connectivity and conveyance operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor system is configured to prevent objects from getting caught or pinched between rollers and belts. The system includes a base, frames on opposite sides of the base, a plurality of rollers each having a bearing, an attachment axle, a drive shaft, a drive belt connecting the draft shaft to one of the bearings, and connecting belts connecting the bearings. The bearings may be disposed between the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected between the frames or may be disposed within the frames such that the drive belt and connecting belts are protected within the frame when a cover is attached to the frame.