Modular Conveyor Mats for Thermal Stress Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular conveyor mats used in temperature-controlled environments, such as tunnel ovens or pasteurizers, are prone to damage and breakage, leading to significant downtime and losses due to bending and torsion stresses, as well as potential contamination from debris entering the gaps between mats.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor system employs multiple, parallel, modular conveyor mats with hinge pins and longitudinal guides that allow for independent movement and expansion, minimizing the risk of damage and contamination by maintaining a small, constant intermediate space between mats, which can absorb bending and torsion stresses and accommodate temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single wide conveyor mat is used, then the conveyor can cover the required width, but the mat is prone to bending and torsion damage
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system divides a single wide mat into multiple narrower parallel mats (at least three) that travel independently. This segmentation reduces the bending and torsion stress on each individual mat, thereby improving damage resistance while maintaining the required overall conveyor width through the parallel arrangement of multiple mats.
2Reliability
If multiple parallel conveyor mats are used, then bending and torsion resistance is improved, but the complexity of the conveyor system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple independent parallel mats instead of a single complex mat structure. Each mat is simpler in design, and their independent operation reduces the complexity of stress distribution and failure modes compared to a single wide mat system.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conveyor mats are placed close together, then contamination risk is reduced, but the mats cannot expand freely with temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system implements different gap sizes at different locations: small intermediate spaces (less than 15mm, preferably less than 5mm) between adjacent mats to prevent contamination, while providing larger expansion spaces at the ends of the mats to accommodate thermal expansion. This local differentiation of gap characteristics simultaneously satisfies both contamination prevention and thermal expansion requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If larger intermediate spaces are provided between mats, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but glass or dirt can enter the spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements different gap sizes at different locations: small intermediate spaces (less than 15mm, preferably less than 5mm) between adjacent mats to prevent contamination, while providing larger expansion spaces at the ends of the mats to accommodate thermal expansion. This local differentiation of gap characteristics simultaneously satisfies both contamination prevention and thermal expansion requirements.
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
This configuration significantly reduces the risk of mat damage and breakage, maintains product stability, and minimizes contamination, ensuring continuous operation and reducing production downtime.
Implementation Method 1
the conveyor mats can expand transversely to the conveying direction in case of temperature increase
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor for conveying products along a conveying track with varying temperature, comprising a first axle provided with first divert wheels and a second axle provided with second divert wheels and a plurality of modular, endless conveyor mats built up from plastic modules, travelling in side-by-side parallel relation in a conveying direction around the first and second divert wheels.