Split Driven Bearing Wheel for Container Handling Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Container treatment devices face challenges with short service life and difficulty in cleaning and replacing central bearing points, particularly in the food industry, due to corrosion and complex replacement processes.
Innovation Solution
A device with a split, driven bearing wheel that functions as both a drive wheel and a support wheel for the shaft, forming a direct plain bearing, which is easier to clean and maintain, and can be easily assembled and disassembled into parts for replacement, extending the service life and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If separate plain bearings are used to support the shaft between drive wheels, then the shaft is prevented from sagging, but the bearings are difficult to clean and have short service life due to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive wheel and bearing wheel into a single integrated component. The drive wheel is designed with a bearing wheel function built-in, eliminating the need for separate plain bearings. This integration allows the shaft support function to be maintained while enabling easy cleaning of the entire wheel assembly as a single unit, resolving the contradiction between shaft stability and cleaning ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive wheel is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as both the drive wheel for moving containers and as the bearing wheel supporting the shaft. This multi-functional design eliminates the separate plain bearing component that was difficult to clean, while maintaining the shaft support function, thus resolving the contradiction between structural stability and ease of maintenance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If separate plain bearings are used to support the shaft, then the shaft is supported, but the bearings require frequent replacement due to shorter service life compared to drive wheels
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the drive wheel and bearing wheel into a single component with identical service life characteristics, the patent eliminates the separate plain bearing that had shorter service life. The integrated wheel assembly now has uniform durability across all components, resolving the contradiction between shaft support and bearing service life.
3Stability of the object's composition
If separate plain bearings are used, then the shaft is supported, but replacement of bearings and drive wheels is associated with considerable effort due to positive connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bearing wheel and drive wheel into a single replaceable unit. This integration means that when maintenance is needed, the entire wheel assembly can be replaced as one component rather than requiring disassembly and replacement of separate bearing and drive wheel components, significantly reducing maintenance effort and resolving the contradiction between shaft support and replacement ease.
4Stability of the object's composition
If separate plain bearings are used, then the shaft is supported, but cleaning of the bearings is difficult especially in the food industry
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the bearing function into the drive wheel, the patent creates a single accessible component that can be easily cleaned and inspected. The merged design eliminates hidden bearing surfaces that are difficult to reach with cleaning tools, allowing comprehensive cleaning of the entire wheel assembly, thus resolving the contradiction between shaft support and resistance to corrosion and contamination.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for handling containers, comprising a supply region (2) having a plurality of parallel supply conveyors (3), on which containers are conveyed in an upright position, a common drive for the supply conveyors (3) having a shaft (4) and a motor driving the shaft (4), wherein each supply conveyor (3) is driven by at least one drive wheel which is interlockingly connected to the shaft (4) and driven by same, as well as at least one mounting point (6) designed for mounting the shaft (4), which has a driven bearing wheel (5) with a shaft receiving means (9) and bearing receiving means (10). In order to provide a container handling device having mounting points in the region of the supply conveyors (3) which are particularly easy to clean, and which also have an improved service life and can be particularly easily exchanged, according to the invention, a bearing block (7) is rotatably mounted with a contact surface (13) directly on a contact surface (12) of the bearing receiving means (10), and the driven bearing wheel (5) is designed as a divided bearing wheel (5) that can be disassembled into two parts (5a).