Modular Splice Link for Metal Conveyor Belt Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal conveyor belts require specialized tools and welding for repairs, leading to increased maintenance time, sanitation issues, and the need for additional components, which is inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A splice link with an outer locking bar and inner connector bar, featuring lower tabs, offset portions, and grooves, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of metal conveyor belts without the need for welding or special tools, using a modular design that locks into existing edge bar links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If welding is used to connect edge bar links in metal conveyor belts, then the belt achieves strong structural integrity and durability, but the repair process becomes complex requiring specialized welding tools, permits, and creates sanitation issues from metal dust
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting link is divided into modular components: a body portion with opening, a tab portion extending from the body, and a separate locking bar. This segmentation allows the components to be easily assembled and disassembled through simple insertion and locking actions, eliminating the need for welding while maintaining structural integrity through the interlocking mechanism of the tab and locking bar.
2Stability of the object's composition
If button head ends and welded ends are used in conveyor belts, then the belt maintains structural stability, but special tools such as grinders and bolt cutters are required for repairs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the button head ends and welded ends from the conveyor belt structure. Instead, it uses a simplified connecting link with a body portion, tab portion, and locking bar that can be easily assembled and disassembled without requiring special tools like grinders or bolt cutters, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining structural stability.
3Reliability
If metal conveyor belts are used for high temperature and sanitation applications, then the belt achieves resistance to heat and sanitization capability, but repairs require grinding operations that create metal dust and sanitation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the welding mechanical system with a simple mechanical insertion and locking system. The locking bar inserts into the body portion and secures the tab, creating a connection that can be assembled and disassembled without grinding operations, thereby eliminating metal dust generation while maintaining the sanitation and high-temperature resistance properties of the metal belt.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional connecting links with slots are used to slidably receive transverse rods, then the belt allows flexible assembly, but the links cannot be easily disconnected for repair without special tools
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting link incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism where the locking bar can be inserted into and removed from the body portion. The tab portion provides a protrusion that engages with the locking bar, creating a secure yet easily reversible connection. This dynamic design allows for flexible assembly during manufacturing and equally easy disconnection during repairs, eliminating the need for special tools.
Data Source
AI summary
A splice link for a conveyor belt includes an outer locking bar including at least one lower tab and an offset portion, an inner connector bar including at least one opening configured to receive the at least one lower tab on the outer locking bar and a front face having an upper tab, the offset portion on the outer locking bar configured to engage the upper tab of the inner connector bar. A further aspect of the disclosure includes a conveyor belt including a plurality of spaced tractive rods, a plurality of parallel pairs of edge bar links interconnecting the plurality of spaced tractive rods, and a splice link disposed between adjacent pairs of edge bar links.