Sealed Electrical Plug Connector for Motorized Conveyor Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor-driven conveyor rollers face issues with electrical connections that are not suitable for moist environments, leading to potential assembly errors and water ingress, which complicates their use in areas like the food processing industry where frequent cleaning is necessary.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a cable bushing that seals and secures the electrical plug connection independently, using a combination of sealing and mechanical fixation methods to prevent water ingress and unauthorized access, while allowing for easy installation and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the electrical plug connection is made detachable using screw or pin securing, then the ease of replacement and repair is improved, but the reliability and protection against liquid ingress deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is divided into separate components: a plug with electrical contacts and a socket with corresponding receptacles. These can be detached from each other, allowing the roller to be replaced without disconnecting cables, while the socket remains sealed in the frame.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed socket housing acts as an intermediary between the electrical plug and the roller motor. The socket is integrated into the frame with sealing elements that prevent liquid ingress, while still allowing electrical connection when the plug is inserted.
2Ease of operation
If the electrical plug connection is made detachable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability and prevention of assembly errors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug and socket are designed with asymmetric geometries including cam-locked engagement features and directional alignment elements. This ensures that the plug can only be inserted in the correct orientation, preventing assembly errors while maintaining ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket is pre-installed and sealed in the frame during frame assembly, before the roller is mounted. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the roller is replaced, the electrical connection is already ready and properly positioned, reducing the risk of assembly errors.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealed assembly box is used to protect against splash water, then the protection against harmful factors is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The socket housing is merged with the frame structure, eliminating the need for a separate sealed assembly box. The sealing elements are integrated directly into the frame, combining the electrical connection function with the structural and protective functions in a single compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical plug and socket are nested within the frame structure, with the socket housed in a sealed compartment that is integrated into the frame. This nesting approach provides splash water protection without requiring additional external enclosures.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a motor-driven conveyor roller, comprising a roller body (5), which extends along a longitudinal axis, an axis element (10), a bearing unit for rotatable bearing of the roller body in relation to the axis element, a drive motor (3) arranged within the roller body, which is mechanically coupled to the axis element and to the roller body to generate a torque between the axis element and the roller body, an electrical plug connector, which is arranged in a hollow chamber in the axis element and which comprises a plug (20) and a bushing (30), which can be detachably coupled to each other in order to establish a single to multi-pole electrical plug connection and an electrical connection line between the electrical plug connection and the drive motor.