Pivotable Dry Brush Conveyor Belt Cleaner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belt cleaning systems fail to effectively remove embedded particulates like seeds, nuts, soybean, wheat, egg, and shellfish remains, which can cause contamination, due to their complexity, difficulty in maintenance, and inability to adjust for optimal cleaning efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable cleaning assembly with a removable cartridge and cylindrical cleaner, driven by friction or motor, that can be adjusted to form an angle with the conveyor belt for enhanced cleaning, featuring a helical brush for effective scrubbing and debris removal, with a cleaning rod for lateral discharge of debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a steam jet assembly is used to clean conveyor belts, then cleaning capability is provided, but the system becomes mechanically complex and difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical steam jet assembly with a simpler dry brush cleaning system. The brush cleaner uses a rotating brush element that mechanically scrubs the conveyor belt surface, eliminating the need for steam generation, jet positioning, and associated mechanical complexity while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush cleaning element is designed as a replaceable, cost-effective component that can be easily swapped when worn. This disposable approach reduces maintenance complexity and cost compared to maintaining a complex steam jet system, aligning with the principle of using inexpensive, replaceable parts instead of expensive, complex systems.
2Device complexity
If a fixed-angle steam jet assembly is used, then the structure is simplified, but cleaning efficiency cannot be optimized for different debris types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an adjustable brush angle mechanism that allows the cleaning brush to be positioned at different angles relative to the conveyor belt. This dynamic adjustment capability enables optimization of cleaning efficiency for different types of debris while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and cleaning efficiency.
3Ease of manufacture
If complex cleaning mechanisms are used to remove embedded particulates, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but maintenance difficulty and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into modular segments, with the brush element as a separate, easily replaceable component. This segmentation allows the brush to be independently maintained or replaced without affecting other parts of the system, maintaining high cleaning effectiveness while dramatically simplifying maintenance procedures compared to integrated complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The brush cleaning element is extracted as a separate, standalone component that can be removed and replaced independently. This extraction principle allows maintenance personnel to quickly swap out worn brushes without disassembling or repairing complex mechanisms, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing maintenance time and difficulty.
4Ease of manufacture
If multiple cleaning passes are used to remove all contaminants, then cleaning completeness improves, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating brush provides continuous cleaning action as the conveyor belt passes through the cleaning station. This continuous mechanical scrubbing action effectively removes embedded particulates in a single pass, eliminating the need for multiple cleaning passes and associated time losses while maintaining cleaning completeness.
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
The system provides efficient removal of embedded contaminants, reduces maintenance complexity, and allows for easy adjustment and replacement of cleaning elements, ensuring effective cleaning of conveyor belts without exacerbating contamination concerns.
Implementation Method 1
The cylindrical cleaner is in contact with the lower conveyor run and is operable to clean debris from the lower conveyor run
Implementation Method 2
featuring a helical brush for effective scrubbing and debris removal
Implementation Method 3
with a cleaning rod for lateral discharge of debris
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device and system operable to a continuous conveyor is shown. The cleaning assembly is operable to clean debris from the continuous conveyer. The cleaning device comprises a cleaning assembly mounted below a lower conveyor belt. The cleaning assembly is pivotable to form an angle with respect to a direction of the lower conveyor run. The cleaning assembly has a removable cartridge having a shaft with a pair of ends and having a cylindrical cleaner mounted on said shaft.