Open Endless Belt Structure for Self-Cleaning Separation Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural separating machines and recycling machinery face contamination issues due to dirt and mud accumulation on functional surfaces, leading to machine interruptions.

Innovation Solution

An open endless belt with transversal bars extending beyond the lateral chains, which scrape and remove dirt from machine surfaces, and in recycling, a container design with open endless belts to separate materials by specific weight and dimension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional closed belts or screens are used in separating machinery, then the machine structure is complete and enclosed, but functional surfaces get contaminated with dirt, ground, and mud accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine continuous operationVSAvoidsurface contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The belt is segmented into discrete transverse bars spaced apart from each other, forming an open endless belt structure. This segmentation allows the belt to scrape surfaces effectively while maintaining structural integrity through the lateral chains that connect the bars longitudinally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the covering material from the belt structure, transitioning from a closed continuous belt to an open belt with spaced bars. This extraction eliminates the surface that would accumulate dirt while preserving the belt's functional ability to transport and scrape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the lower surfaces of bars are flush with lateral chains, then the belt structure is compact, but scraping effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraping functionVSAvoidbelt structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lower surfaces of the transverse bars are made to extend beyond the lateral chains at specific locations where scraping is needed, while the rest of the belt structure maintains its compact design. This local extension of bar surfaces optimizes scraping effectiveness without significantly increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Reduces dirt and sediment buildup, preventing machine interruptions and enhancing separation efficiency in agricultural and recycling processes.

Implementation Method 1

the lower surfaces of the bars may slide over moving or fixed surfaces and as such may scrape these surfaces, thereby removing material left on said surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4052556B1Open endless belt

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 DEPREZ CONSTRUCT

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AI summary

An open endless belt is provided, the open endless belt having a longitudinal and transversal direction and defining an inner and an outer side to the open endless belt, said open endless belt comprising: • a first and second lateral chain at the transversal outer ends of the open endless belt; • a plurality of transversal bars having a first and a second outer end, the first outer end being connected to the first longitudinal chain, the second outer end being connected to the second longitudinal chain. The lower surfaces of the bars are flush with or extend beyond the first and second lateral chain at the inner side of the open endless belt.