Segmented Conveyor Belt Surface Sections for Multi-Material Handling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conveyor belts are not suitable for multi-material processing and transporting plate-shaped materials without impairing sensitive surfaces, as they often cause material carryover and corrosion due to uniform material composition and surface interactions.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor belt with distinct surface sections, each designed for specific materials, allowing for adaptive surface selection based on markings and properties to prevent surface damage and corrosion, featuring differently coated or structured sections that can be identified and positioned accordingly for different materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a uniform conveyor belt is used for all materials, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but material carryover and surface impairment occur leading to corrosion and contamination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidsurface impairment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt is divided into multiple surface sections (first surface section, second surface section, etc.) along its longitudinal direction, where each section has different material properties or surface characteristics suitable for different conveyed goods. This segmentation allows the belt to handle multiple materials without cross-contamination while still being a single continuous belt structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different surface sections of the conveyor belt are assigned different local qualities (materials, coatings, or surface structures) to match specific conveyed goods. For example, one section may have a non-stick coating for food items while another section has a different material for metallic parts, optimizing performance for each material type without requiring separate belts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If a single conveyor belt handles all materials, then device complexity is minimized, but adaptability to different materials is reduced causing material pairings that lead to corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple surface sections with different material properties along its length, enabling it to adapt to different conveyed goods without requiring multiple separate belts or complex switching mechanisms. Each section can be optimized for specific material types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The single conveyor belt is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating different surface sections that can handle various materials (food, metal, plastic, etc.). This multi-functional design allows one belt to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized belts, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If markings are added to identify surface sections, then the ability to select appropriate surface sections is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different surface sections of the conveyor belt are marked with distinct colors or visual indicators that correspond to the type of material each section is designed to handle. These markings are integrated into the belt manufacturing process through colored coatings or printed patterns, making them easy to apply during production while providing clear visual guidance for operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP2631202B1Apparatus for taking up goods and method for discharging or processing workpieces
Publication Date: 2015.05.20 TRUMPF SACHSEN GMBH
  • EP2631202B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2631202B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a conveyor belt for a mechanical conveying device and a method for removing and processing workpieces, wherein a first marking and at least one further marking for a first and at least one second surface section (19, 21) are provided on the bearing side (17) and/or on a running side (16) and/or on an edge, which extend along the edge and/or partially or over the entire width of the belt material and extend at least partially in the longitudinal direction of the belt material and whose surfaces differ from each other.