Shape-Shifting Scraper for Conveyor Belt Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt cleaners fail to effectively remove leavings from the central region of conveyor belts with varying trough-shaped configurations, leading to clearance issues and uneven wear on the scraper, which can result in incomplete cleaning and potential damage to the belt.
Innovation Solution
A belt cleaner with a shape-shifting scraper mechanism that can adjust its curvature to match different trough-shaped belt configurations, ensuring contact over the full width and reducing wear by allowing the scraper to deform and maintain optimal contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the scraping portions are arranged in linear relationship, then the structure is simple, but the clearance between scraping portions and belt surface increases when central region wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade is designed with a curved configuration matching the arcuate shape of the conveyor belt's central region. This curvature allows the scraping portion to maintain contact with the worn central region of the belt, eliminating clearance issues that occur with linear arrangements while keeping the structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaner design focuses the scraping action specifically on the central region of the belt where material wear is most intensive. The curved scraper blade concentrates cleaning effectiveness where it is needed most, rather than distributing it uniformly across the entire belt width.
2Productivity
If the scraping portions are arranged to contact the belt surface, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the scraping portions get worn intensively and clearance increases gradually
Solution Approach 1:
The curved configuration of the scraper blade distributes contact pressure more evenly across the scraping portion, preventing intensive wear at specific points. This allows the scraper to maintain effective contact with the belt surface over a longer period before clearance becomes problematic.
3Reliability
If the scraper is made rigid to maintain contact pressure, then cleaning performance is consistent, but it cannot adapt to varying trough-shaped belt configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper blade is designed with flexible support that allows it to dynamically adjust its position and curvature in response to variations in belt trough shape. This flexibility enables the scraper to adapt to different belt configurations while maintaining consistent contact pressure and cleaning performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper system can adjust parameters such as blade curvature and contact pressure to match varying belt conditions. This allows the same scraper design to effectively clean belts with different trough shapes and wear patterns without sacrificing cleaning consistency.
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 belt cleaner effectively removes leavings from the conveyor belt surface over the full width, regardless of the belt's trough shape, preventing damage and ensuring consistent performance across varying belt configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a scraper having a scraping portion formed with a tip member at uppermost end thereof is yieldingly supported by a resilient member so that the scraping portion becomes in contact with the belt surface under pressure by the resilience of said resilient member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
A belt cleaner is provided in which a scraping portion (7) of a scraper (5) becomes in contact with the belt surface over the full width thereof even when the trough-shape of the belt surface is different from the shape as expected, thereby the leavings on the belt surface will be scraped off in an optimum manner. The scraper (5) is formed by a resiliently deformable blade which is curved and held in a holding groove of a holder (6) so that the scraper (5) keeps an arcuate shape having a distance (L) between the central portion and the both side portions thereof with respect to the lengthwise direction of the belt. Shape shifting means is provided in said holding groove for transforming said scraper (5) into a desired curved configuration selected from among plural curved configurations differing said distance (L) thereby the scraper (5) is held to keep said selected curved configuration.