Modular Conveyor Support for Easier Waste Belt Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing removal devices for waste products in machining profiled bars are bulky, difficult to maintain, and cumbersome to transport due to their monolithic structure and long conveyor belts, making access and maintenance operations challenging.
Innovation Solution
A modular conveyor belt system with removable supporting modules, independent drive and driven units, and compact design that allows easy disassembly and assembly for maintenance and transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a monolithic intermediate plane is used to support the conveyor belt, then the conveyor belt is stable during operation, but maintenance operations become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate plane is divided into multiple modular supporting elements that can be independently removed. Each supporting element can be detached from the others, allowing maintenance personnel to access and replace the conveyor belt without removing the entire support structure, thus resolving the contradiction between operational stability and ease of maintenance.
2Productivity
If the conveyor belt extends for the entire length of the apparatus, then waste products are effectively removed, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt system is divided into modular sections corresponding to the segmented supporting elements. Each section can be independently removed and transported, allowing the system to maintain full-length waste removal capability during operation while enabling easy disassembly for transportation, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and transportability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the supporting structure acts as an autonomous unit, then the conveyor belt is stable, but disassembly requires removing a large number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is segmented into independent modular elements that maintain stability when assembled but can be easily separated. Each module is designed as a self-contained unit with standardized connection interfaces, reducing the overall complexity of disassembly while preserving structural stability during operation.
4Productivity
If the conveyor belt is made of rubber material, then it effectively transports waste products, but it prevents significant deformation during removal operations
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the conveyor belt system into removable sections supported by modular elements, the rubber belt can maintain its material properties for effective waste transport while the segmented support structure allows the belt to be easily removed and replaced without requiring significant deformation or complex manipulation.
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 easy maintenance, reduces handling difficulties, and enables efficient transportation of the removal device by allowing individual module removal and compact packaging.
Implementation Method 1
a conveyor belt for transporting the waste products to an unloading zone along an advancement direction
Implementation Method 2
at least two end rollers on which the conveyor belt is wound so as to define an upper branch of the conveyor belt interposed between the two end rollers and a lower branch of the conveyor belt positioned below the upper branch
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A removal device is provided for removing waste products from an apparatus for machining profiled bars. The removal device (1; 101) comprises at least one conveyor belt (2) movable along an advancement direction (F) for transporting the waste products towards an unloading zone (3). The conveyor belt (2) comprises a belt made of a synthetic polymeric material. The removal device (1; 101) furthermore comprises at least two end rollers (4) on which the conveyor belt (2) is wound, so as to define an upper branch (5) of the conveyor belt (2) interposed between the two end rollers (4) and a lower branch (6) of the conveyor belt (2) positioned below the upper branch (5). A supporting plane (7) is provided below the upper branch (5) for providing support for the waste products transported by the conveyor belt (2). The supporting plane (7) is defined by a plurality of supporting modules (8) positioned one alongside the other along the advancement direction (F), each supporting module (8) being configured to be removed from the supporting plane (7) independently from the adjacent supporting module (7).