Motorized Conveyor Rollers for Selective Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor belts with rollers face issues such as high power requirements for moving heavy bearing surfaces and increased belt tension due to non-frictionless contact, which reduces roller life.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of motorized rollers integrated within the conveyor belt modules, where each roller houses a motor or is coupled to a drive mechanism, allowing for selective rotation and reducing reliance on external bearing surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bearing surfaces are moved rapidly into and out of contact with belt rollers to selectively actuate rollers, then roller actuation is achieved, but complex framework and high power are required
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into modular belt segments, each with its own independently actuated rollers. This segmentation allows individual roller control without requiring movement of entire heavy bearing surfaces, reducing power requirements while maintaining selective actuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving heavy bearing surfaces to actuate rollers, the invention inverts the approach by integrating motors directly into the roller assemblies. This eliminates the need for external bearing surface movement mechanisms and their complex frameworks, achieving roller actuation with minimal power
2Ease of operation
If bearing surfaces are moved rapidly into and out of contact with belt rollers to selectively actuate rollers, then roller actuation is achieved, but complex framework is required
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is segmented into modular units with independently controlled rollers. Each module contains its own actuation mechanism, eliminating the need for a complex overarching framework to coordinate bearing surface movement across the entire conveyor width
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by placing motors directly on rollers rather than using external bearing surfaces. This eliminates the complex framework needed to support and move bearing surfaces, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining selective actuation
3Reliability
If belt rollers roll on bearing surfaces, then roller support is achieved, but contact is not frictionless which increases belt tension and reduces roller life
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the friction problem by eliminating contact with external bearing surfaces. Motors are integrated directly into the roller assemblies, allowing rollers to rotate without sliding contact on bearing surfaces, thereby reducing friction-induced wear and extending roller life while maintaining support functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Each roller becomes self-sufficient with its own integrated motor, eliminating dependence on external bearing surfaces. This self-service approach allows direct drive without frictional contact, reducing wear on both rollers and eliminating belt tension increases associated with non-frictionless contact
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 solution decreases the need for complex frameworks and high power to actuate rollers, lowers belt tension, and extends roller life by enabling efficient and controlled rotation of rollers within the conveyor system.
Implementation Method 1
At least one motor advancing with the rollers rotates the rollers
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor having selectively actuated rollers whose only external contact is with conveyed articles and a method for rotating such rollers. In one version, the rollers are driven by motors that are selectively energized by a wireless signal or a sensed conveyor position. In another version, the rollers are geared to a drive wheel that engages a bearing surface underlying the conveyor along the conveying path. The rollers are selectively actuated to push conveyed articles along the conveyor as it advances.