Positive-drive spiral conveyor with variable-height ridges
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Spiral conveyor systems face issues with high belt tension, frictional losses, and wear due to overdrive systems, and challenges in clean engagement and disengagement in positively driven systems.
Innovation Solution
A spiral conveyor with a rotating cylindrical drive tower featuring parallel drive members with outwardly projecting ridges that vary in height, positively driving the conveyor belt along a helical path without overdrive, ensuring consistent engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If overdrive systems are used to reduce maximum belt tension, then belt tension is reduced, but frictional losses increase and wear occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The drive tower is segmented into multiple parallel drive members (at least three) spaced around its periphery, each independently engaging the belt. This segmentation distributes the driving force across multiple contact points, reducing the tension required at any single point while minimizing frictional losses through more uniform force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Each drive member has a ridge with varying height along its length, creating different engagement characteristics at different locations. The ridge height varies to provide optimal engagement at each position along the helical path, allowing positive engagement without requiring high tension or creating excessive friction.
2Force
If overdrive systems are used to reduce maximum belt tension, then belt tension is reduced, but wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive function is segmented across multiple parallel drive members, each with ridges that provide positive engagement. This eliminates the continuous frictional contact of overdrive systems, replacing it with discrete positive engagement points that do not cause wear.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using friction (overdrive) or complex engagement mechanisms, the invention uses simple ridge structures that protrude outwardly to engage the belt directly. This inverted approach from friction-based driving to positive mechanical engagement eliminates wear while maintaining low tension requirements.
3Loss of energy
If positively driven spiral systems are used to eliminate slip, then frictional losses are reduced, but clean engagement and disengagement become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge on each drive member has non-uniform height along its length, with the height varying to facilitate smooth engagement at the entrance and clean disengagement at the exit. This local variation in geometry allows the belt to be positively driven while maintaining ease of operation throughout the helical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The varying ridge height creates dynamic engagement characteristics that adapt to the belt's position in the helical path. As the belt engages and disengages, the changing contact geometry ensures smooth transitions without binding or difficulty, while maintaining positive drive throughout.
Data Source
AI summary
A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower with parallel drive members extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower.