Integrated Motor Housing Support Frame Star Wheel Conveyor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor devices are difficult to assemble and maintain due to separate outer housings and complex motor adjustments, leading to increased manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

The motor housing assumes a static function as part of the support frame, eliminating the need for a separate outer housing and allowing easy access for maintenance, with the control unit optionally housed within, and screw-based assembly to support frames.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate outer housing is used to accommodate the drive motor, then the motor is protected and housed, but the assembly and maintenance become difficult and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor protectionVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The motor housing is merged with the support frame to form a single integrated component. The motor housing serves dual functions: protecting the motor and providing structural support for the star wheel conveyor. This eliminates the need for a separate outer housing and allows easy access to the motor for maintenance by removing the motor housing from the support frame.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor housing is designed to perform multiple functions: it protects the motor, provides structural support as part of the support frame, and serves as an accessible enclosure that can be removed for maintenance. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction between protection and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate outer housing is used for the drive motor, then the motor is properly housed, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor housingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the motor housing with the support frame into a single component, the number of parts to be manufactured and assembled is reduced. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing of an outer housing and its assembly to the support frame, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly costs while maintaining motor protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the drive motor is housed in a separate outer housing, then the structure is complete, but the complexity of assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural completenessVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor housing is integrated with the support frame, reducing the total number of components from four (support frame, outer housing, motor, star wheel) to three (integrated motor housing-support frame, motor, star wheel). This simplifies the assembly process while maintaining structural completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2093168B2Transport device
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 KRONES AG
  • EP2093168B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2093168B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2093168B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The conveyer systems (4,5) have a drive motor with a motor shaft and a motor housing, and a load-carrying support frame (8). The motor housing is a part of the load receiving support frame and a part of a supporting column of a star-shaped wheel conveyer. The driving motor is formed as a direct drive and the motor housing has a control unit for driving motor. The motor housing is provided with a connecting element for connection with other part of the support frame.