Conveyor Belt Module With Narrow Eye-Part Surfaces for Easier Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modular conveyor belts used for food products face challenges in cleanliness due to voids, crevices, and edges that collect debris, making them difficult to clean effectively, especially with pressure washers.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt module design with a primary group of eye parts having smaller width ratios than a secondary group, allowing for reduced surface area contact with conveyed objects and enhanced cleaning access, while the secondary group maintains strength for durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the conveyor belt module uses eye parts with uniform width ratios for both primary and secondary groups, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the surface area contact with conveyed objects is large causing contamination and cleaning difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the width ratios of eye parts based on their functional groups. Primary group eye parts (in contact with conveyed objects) have smaller width ratios to minimize surface area and contamination, while secondary group eye parts (for driving mechanism interaction) have larger width ratios to ensure durability and reduced wear. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and contamination prevention.
2Strength
If the primary group eye parts have larger surface area contact, then the structural strength is higher, but the contamination risk increases and cleaning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different width ratio characteristics to different functional groups of eye parts. The primary group eye parts have optimized smaller width ratios specifically for minimizing contamination while maintaining adequate strength through the secondary group's larger width ratios that provide overall structural support and durability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the secondary group eye parts have smaller width ratios, then the contamination is reduced, but the interaction with actuating means becomes insufficient reducing durability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating width ratios between primary and secondary group eye parts based on their specific functional requirements. Secondary group eye parts have larger width ratios optimized for durable interaction with actuating means, while primary group eye parts have smaller width ratios optimized for minimizing contamination contact.
4Ease of manufacture
If the conveyor belt module has uniform eye part design, then the manufacturing is easier, but the cleaning effectiveness with pressure washers is reduced due to voids and crevices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by creating distinct width ratio characteristics for primary and secondary group eye parts. This differentiation optimizes the geometry to reduce voids and crevices where debris could accumulate, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness with pressure washers while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a systematic design approach.
Data Source
AI summary
There is presented a conveyor belt module for a side flexing modular conveyor belt wherein a width ratio between a longitudinal surface width and a maximum width of eye parts placed centrally along a longitudinal is smaller than a width ratio for eye parts placed on both sides of the centrally placed eye parts. There is furthermore presented a modular conveyor belt, a conveyor belt system, a method for conveying one or more elements and use of modular conveyor belt for conveying one or more elements.