Modular Conveyor Drive Assembly With Standardized Motor-Gear Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive arrangements for conveyors are costly and time-consuming to manufacture, requiring high development effort and long lead times to meet specific customer requirements, with limited flexibility in design.
Innovation Solution
A standardized modular drive assembly comprising a transmission module and a motor module with standardized interface dimensions, allowing for various gear ratios and motor selections, along with a modular design that includes a clutch, brake, and torque connection, enabling efficient decoupling of thermal, electrical, and vibration-related issues through plate parts and damping elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a standardized modular drive assembly is used, then manufacturing cost and lead time are reduced, but the ability to meet specific customer requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is divided into separate modular components: a motor module and a transmission module, each with standardized interfaces. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing and assembly of different configurations to meet various customer requirements while maintaining cost efficiency through standardized production processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized interfaces (flange connections, mounting dimensions, shaft interfaces) are designed to be universal across different drive configurations. This universality enables the same basic modules to serve multiple customer specifications by simply changing the combination and arrangement of standardized components rather than creating custom designs for each order.
2Device complexity
If motor and transmission are mounted together on a one-piece base plate, then structural simplicity is achieved, but thermal and vibration coupling between components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A clutch assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor and transmission, mounted on the common base plate. This intermediary provides the necessary mechanical connection while allowing for decoupling of thermal and vibration pathways through its design, thus maintaining structural simplicity without the harmful coupling effects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a modular design with interchangeable bases is used, then flexibility and customization are improved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor base and transmission base are designed with standardized, interchangeable interfaces that can mate with each other in different configurations. This universality allows the same set of standardized parts to create multiple drive configurations, achieving flexibility and customization without proportionally increasing the total number of unique parts required.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transmission module (20) which comprises a transmission (22, 72) which is mounted on a transmission base plate (22, 24, 34), wherein the transmission (22, 72) has an output shaft which is configured for coupling to a conveying device belt pulley shaft, and a motor module (30) which comprises an electric motor (32) which is mounted on a motor base plate (34), wherein the motor base plate (34) can be joined to the transmission base plate (22, 24, 34) and can be connected in an exchangeable manner, and wherein the motor module (30) has a torque connection (50) which is configured for coupling to a conveying device supporting structure.