Conveyance Roller With Magnetic Hysteresis Coupling for Reduced Wear

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyance rollers used as accumulating rollers suffer from wear of rotating bodies due to sliding, leading to inefficient rotation transmission and reduced lifetime.

Innovation Solution

A conveyance roller design incorporating a rotary member and hysteresis materials with permanent magnets, allowing for hysteresis torque generation without direct contact, supported by bearings and an adjustment mechanism to optimize torque and reduce wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the rotating body rotates while sliding against the roller body to enable accumulating function, then the object can be temporarily retained, but the rotating body is worn and lifetime is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccumulating functionVSAvoidlifetime of rotating body
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sliding friction system with a magnetic coupling system. The drive force is transmitted from the rotary member to the roller body through magnetic attraction between the permanent magnet and ferrous material, eliminating direct physical contact and sliding wear. This allows the roller to maintain its accumulating function while significantly extending the lifetime of rotating components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If friction force is used to transmit rotation from rotating body to roller body, then the structure is simple, but wear occurs and transmission efficiency degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidrotation transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the friction-based mechanical transmission with a magnetic field-based transmission system. The permanent magnet mounted on the rotary member magnetically couples with the ferrous material on the roller body, transmitting rotational force without physical contact. This maintains structural simplicity while eliminating wear and maintaining consistent transmission efficiency throughout the component's lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the rotating body directly contacts the roller body for torque transmission, then the design is simple, but wear and tear increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign simplicityVSAvoidlifetime of conveyance roller
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces direct mechanical contact for torque transmission with a magnetic coupling mechanism. The permanent magnet on the rotary member creates a magnetic field that attracts the ferrous material on the roller body, transmitting torque through the air gap without physical contact. This non-contact transmission eliminates wear while maintaining design simplicity and significantly extends the conveyance roller's operational lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 extends the lifetime of the conveyance roller by preventing wear and ensuring efficient rotation transmission, while maintaining stable article transfer without impact, and optimizing space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

a hysteresis material that is fixed to the other one of the rotary member and the roller body such that the hysteresis material faces the permanent magnet and is spaced apart from the permanent magnet in a radial direction of the roller body, the hysteresis material generating a hysteresis torque between the hysteresis material and the permanent magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHysteresis: Hysteresis

Implementation Method 2

a permanent magnet that is provided inside the roller body and is fixed to one of the rotary member and the roller body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4588862A1Conveyance roller
Publication Date: 2025.07.23 YAMAUCHI CORP
  • EP4588862A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4588862A1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4588862A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

A conveyance roller includes a roller body, a rotary member, permanent magnets, and hysteresis materials. A pillar-shaped shaft member is inserted into the roller body and the rotary member. The roller body is provided to be able to rotate relative to the shaft member and cover outside of a center of the shaft member. The rotary member includes a driven portion provided outside the roller body in an axis direction of the shaft member and rotates relative to the shaft member by the driven portion being driven and rotated by a drive source. The permanent magnets are provided inside the roller body and are fixed to one of the rotary member and the roller body. The hysteresis materials are fixed to the other one of the rotary member and the roller body such that the hysteresis materials are able to face the permanent magnets in a radial direction of the roller body, and generate a hysteresis torque between the hysteresis materials and the permanent magnets.