Magnetic Conveyor Pan Coupling for Serviceable Drive Assemblies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor assemblies with complex connections between conveyor pans and drive motors are difficult to clean and service, requiring time and effort to loosen bolts, which can lead to production delays and potential degradation of fasteners.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor system with a drive carriage featuring a plurality of magnets that couple the conveyor pan perpendicularly, allowing for easy removal without loosening bolts, using pry plates and levers to decouple the pan from the drive carriage, ensuring consistent and uniform motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bolts and fasteners are used to connect the conveyor pan to the drive motor, then the connection is strong and reliable, but the assembly becomes difficult to disassemble for cleaning and servicing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidease of disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical bolt-and-hole fastening system with a magnetic field-based coupling system. Magnets embedded in the drive motor housing attract and hold the conveyor pan without physical fasteners, enabling easy separation by overcoming the magnetic force while maintaining strong operational connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the connection parameter from mechanical interlocking (bolts) to magnetic attraction force. The magnetic coupling strength can be adjusted by selecting appropriate magnet types and configurations, providing reliable connection during operation that can be easily overcome when disassembly is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple bolts are used to secure the conveyor pan, then the connection is stable, but the servicing time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidservicing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the multi-bolt mechanical fastening system with a magnetic field-based coupling system. Magnets embedded in the drive motor housing attract and hold the conveyor pan without physical fasteners, enabling easy separation by overcoming the magnetic force while maintaining strong operational connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the fastening function from the mechanical bolt system and replaces it with a magnetic field. This removes the need for multiple discrete fasteners and their associated loosening and tightening operations, significantly reducing servicing time while maintaining connection stability during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of repair

If bolts are repeatedly loosened and tightened for servicing, then the conveyor can be maintained, but the fasteners degrade over time

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaintainabilityVSAvoidfastener durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic coupling system uses inherently durable magnets that do not degrade with repeated assembly and disassembly cycles like mechanical fasteners. The magnets provide consistent holding force over time without the fatigue and degradation issues that plague repeatedly used bolts and fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Facilitates quicker and more efficient cleaning and servicing of conveyor assemblies, reduces wear on fasteners, and maintains uniform alignment between the conveyor pan and drive motor, minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

a drive carriage comprising a plurality of magnets spaced away from a drive motor, and where the magnets apply a force to a conveyor pan in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the conveyor pan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS10737883B2Methods and systems for a conveyor assembly

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 PPM TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for a conveyor system. In one example, a system may include a drive carriage comprising a plurality of magnets configured to magnetically couple to a conveyor pan. The plurality of magnets may be configured to maintain the conveyor pan in a fully locked position as the drive carriage actuates the conveyor pan.