Selective-Coated Conveyor Belt for Air-Permeable Cardboard Stacking

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor belts used in transporting and stacking cardboard blanks are impermeable and have sharp, impact-prone edges due to their material-removing processing, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor belt design featuring selectively coated areas with coating strips made of polymer materials like polyurea, allowing for optimal friction and air permeability, while avoiding sharp edges by using a spiral link carrier and strategically placed uncoated areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a complete closed surface coating is applied to the carrier, then conveying efficiency is improved through optimal friction, but air permeability is lost and sharp edges are created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying efficiencyVSAvoidsharp edges and loss of air permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt surface is segmented into alternating coated and uncoated regions along the transverse direction. The coated regions provide friction for conveying, while the uncoated regions maintain air permeability and eliminate sharp edges, resolving the contradiction between conveying efficiency and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the conveyor belt surface are given different properties: coated regions have high friction for material conveyance, while uncoated regions remain porous and edge-free. This local differentiation allows the belt to simultaneously achieve optimal conveying and avoid harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If material is removed by grinding to create grooves, then sealing and guidance are improved, but sharp impact-prone edges are created

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing and guidanceVSAvoidsharp edges
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of removing material to create grooves (which creates sharp edges), the invention applies coating material selectively to create raised coated regions. This inverted approach achieves the same sealing and guidance functions while the uncoated regions between coated areas provide rounded, impact-resistant transitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If a continuous coating is applied across the entire carrier surface, then conveying properties are optimized, but air permeability is completely blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying propertiesVSAvoidair permeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is applied in a segmented pattern with alternating coated and uncoated regions across the transverse direction of the belt. This segmentation allows air to pass through the uncoated regions while the coated regions provide the necessary friction for conveying

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The belt surface exhibits local quality variation where coated regions provide high friction for material handling, while uncoated regions maintain the carrier's natural air permeability, allowing both functions to coexist

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

The solution provides improved conveying efficiency and safety by ensuring good friction for transporting cardboard blanks while being air-permeable and reducing the risk of damage from sharp edges, enhancing the overall performance and durability of the conveyor belt.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of coating strips (8) arranged at a distance from one another and made of a coating material, which are connected to the carrier (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The conveyor belt according to the invention is obtained by exclusively selectively coating the carrier or comprises a carrier coated exclusively selectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP3753869B1Conveyor belt, use, method and conveyor or cardboard blank stacking device
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 HEIMBACH GMBH
  • EP3753869B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3753869B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3753869B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a conveyor belt (1), in particular for use as an endless belt in a conveyor device or in a cardboard blank stacking device, which extends in a transport direction (T) and a transverse direction (Q) extending transversely to the transport direction (T) and has a front side (5) intended for supporting transported goods and a back side (6) facing away from the front side (5), wherein the conveyor belt (1) comprises a carrier (7) and a plurality of spaced-apart coating strips (8) made of a coating material, wherein the carrier (7) is connected to the coating strips (8), in particular is at least partially embedded in the coating strips (8), and the carrier (7) has areas (10) in which it is free of coating material.Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a conveyor belt (1), the use of a conveyor belt (1) and a conveying or cardboard cutting device with a conveyor belt (1).