Conveying Roller Coupling Bushing for Tolerance-Stable Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor-driven conveying rollers face issues with high noise levels, deformation due to fluctuating tolerances, and maintenance challenges, particularly with lubricated rollers where frictional fits can be impaired by oil films and require complex form-fitting connections that are costly and difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A motor-driven conveying roller design featuring a coupling bushing connected to the roller body in a frictionally fitting or integral manner at specific points, using radial noses or spot welding to transmit torque while allowing for higher manufacturing tolerances and easier oil displacement, thus simplifying the design and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circumferential frictionally fitting connection is used between the coupling bushing and roller body, then torque transmission is reliable, but manufacturing tolerances must be very tight which increases manufacturing cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling bushing is divided into multiple separate coupling elements (e.g., 3-12 radially extending noses or teeth) that are distributed around the circumference. Each coupling element makes contact with the roller body at discrete points rather than requiring continuous circumferential contact. This segmentation allows for higher manufacturing tolerances while maintaining reliable torque transmission through the distributed contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring uniform frictional contact around the entire circumference, the invention concentrates the frictionally fitting connection at specific local points where the coupling elements contact the roller body. This local quality approach means that only these discrete contact points require precise tolerances, while the rest of the coupling bushing can accommodate higher tolerances, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
2Reliability
If a form-fitting connection is used to transmit torque, then torque transmission is secure, but the design becomes complex and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex form-fitting mechanical connections with a simpler frictionally fitting connection between the coupling elements and the roller body. The torque transmission is achieved through friction at the contact points between the coupling elements and roller body surface, eliminating the need for intricate interlocking geometries. This substitution reduces design complexity while maintaining secure torque transmission.
3Reliability
If a circumferential frictionally fitting connection is used, then torque transmission is effective, but oil films impair the frictional fit requiring laborious degreasing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the frictionally fitting connection from a continuous circumferential arrangement and concentrates it at discrete localized points where the coupling elements contact the roller body. This extraction allows oil to be more easily displaced from these specific contact zones compared to a continuous circumferential interface. The reduced surface area at contact points facilitates easier degreasing and maintains effective frictional torque transmission without requiring extensive degreasing procedures.
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 design reduces noise, prevents deformation, and simplifies manufacturing and maintenance by allowing higher tolerances and effective torque transmission without the need for laborious degreasing or complex form-fitting connections, while maintaining reliable operation even with oil-lubricated rollers.
Implementation Method 1
the output portion of the coupling bushing (52) is connected to the inner circumferential surface (12) of the roller body (2) in a frictionally fitting manner, for torque-transmitting purposes, at certain points
Data Source
AI summary
A motor-driven conveying roller for conveying installations for conveying containers, pallets and the like, having a roller body, of which the outer circumferential surface constitutes a bearing surface for articles, having a drive unit, which is arranged within an interior of the roller body, and having a coupling unit, which is designed to transmit a torque from the drive unit to an inner circumferential surface of the interior of the roller body and has a coupling bushing, which has a drive portion, connected to the drive unit, and an outer peripheral output portion, wherein the coupling bushing is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the roller body in a frictionally fitting and/or integral manner, for torque-transmitting purposes, only at certain points.