Snap-On Chain Conveyor Slats for Field Replacement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor belts for food preparation devices, such as toasters, are expensive to produce, cumbersome to assemble, and difficult to repair or replace, especially in the field, due to their complex design and high manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor belt system with snap-on slats that are easily removable and replaceable without specialized tools, using durable materials like stainless steel, and featuring a design that allows adjacent slats to partially rotate relative to each other, facilitating easy assembly and maintenance while minimizing contact with food products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional wire conveyor belts are used, then the conveyor belt provides a flat support surface for food items, but the conveyor belt is expensive to produce and cumbersome to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into modular slats that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each slat is a separate component that attaches to adjacent slats through connection elements, allowing for simplified manufacturing and easy assembly/disassembly without requiring complex welding or fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from traditional metal wire construction to alternative materials such as plastic or composite materials. This parameter change reduces manufacturing cost, simplifies production processes, and enables easier assembly while maintaining the flat support surface functionality.
2Strength
If conventional wire conveyor belts are used, then the conveyor belt provides structural support, but the conveyor belt is difficult to repair or replace in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The modular slat design allows individual slats to be removed and replaced independently in the field without requiring disassembly of the entire conveyor belt. This segmentation enables easy field repair by simply swapping out damaged slats while maintaining structural support through the remaining slats.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables individual slats to be discarded (removed) and replaced without affecting the overall structure. Damaged slats can be quickly removed and replaced with new or refurbished slats, allowing for efficient field maintenance and recovery of conveyor belt functionality.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid conveyor belt design is used, then the conveyor belt provides stable support, but the conveyor belt may mark or pinch food products
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from rigid metal wire to more compliant materials such as plastic or composite materials. This parameter change allows the slats to be sufficiently rigid to provide stable support while having softer surfaces that do not mark or pinch delicate food products during conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The slat design incorporates specific surface characteristics at the food-contact areas that differ from the structural portions. The top surfaces of the slats are designed with smooth, non-marring properties while maintaining structural integrity, creating local quality differences that prevent food damage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A conveyor belt system provides a continuous flat support surface for a food item that moves the food item through a food preparation device. The conveyor belt system includes a conveyor belt having a plurality of spaced apart rods and a plurality of slats that are removably attached to the conveyor belt with a snap on mechanism. The slats are easily assembled and provide enhanced field service and/or replacement capability.