Split Sprocket Wheel Assembly for Hygienic Conveyor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sprocket wheels in conveyor systems, particularly in the food industry, are difficult to clean thoroughly due to closed or enclosed spaces, which complicates maintaining high hygienic standards and require extensive disassembly for replacement, leading to increased downtime.
Innovation Solution
A two-part sprocket wheel design with engagement ridges and assembly flanges that allow for easy cleaning and quick replacement, featuring orthogonal engagement ridges with cut-outs and circumferential ridges to prevent debris entry, ensuring a secure torque transfer without material loss or hiding areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a conventional single-piece sprocket wheel is used, then the structure is simple and strong, but it requires extensive disassembly of the conveyor belt for replacement and has enclosed spaces that are difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The sprocket wheel is divided into two separate periphery elements that can be assembled around the drive axle independently. Each element has engagement ridges that fit into grooves on the axle, allowing the sprocket to be installed without disassembling the conveyor belt. This segmentation enables easy replacement while maintaining structural integrity.
2Ease of repair
If a multi-part sprocket wheel is used, then replacement is easier, but closed or enclosed spaces are created that are very difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts or removes the problematic enclosed spaces by creating an open construction where the two periphery elements are positioned side-by-side with gaps between them. The engagement ridges and cut-outs are designed to prevent material loss while maintaining open spaces that can be easily cleaned, eliminating hygiene issues associated with enclosed areas.
3Reliability
If the sprocket wheel has engagement means that closely fit the axle, then torque transfer is efficient, but cleaning access is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement ridges are designed with specific local features including cut-outs and bent-out sections that provide cleaning access. These local modifications allow cleaning fluids to reach the engagement interfaces while the overall engagement structure maintains sufficient contact area for reliable torque transfer. The ridges engage the axle at specific locations rather than requiring complete circumferential contact.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~3
Figure 2b
AI summary
Two part sprocket wheel (1) adapted to engage modular belt modules in a conveyor belt, where said two part sprocket wheel (1) comprises: - two periphery elements (10,11), each periphery element (10,11) having an outer edge (13) and inner edge (12) and a web body (9) there between, where sprocket teeth (15) are provided on the outer edge (13), and where the inner edge (12) has an engagement surface, and where each periphery element (10,11) has means (16) for being connected and fastened to and adjacent periphery element (10,11), such that the two periphery elements' outer edges (13) form a full circle, said circle being arranged in a common plane, wherein centrally in the sprocket wheel (1) an aperture (20) is provided, said aperture (20) being dimensioned to accommodate a substantially rectangular axle, where the longitudinal axis of the axle is perpendicular to the common plane of the two part sprocket wheel (1), where each part of the sprocket wheel (10,11) has four engagement ridges (21, 22, 23, 24), which engagement ridges (21,22,23,24) when the sprocket wheel is mounted around the axle will engage the axle, where a first pair of ridges (21,22) are arranged orthogonal to each other, and where a bent out section (25), connects the two engagement ridges (21,22), where a second pair of engagement ridges (23,24) is mirrored the first pair (21,22), such that the two engagement ridges (22,23) of different pairs being in the same plane are separated by a cut-out (26), and where parallel to the inner edge, a certain distance away from the aperture (20), assembly flanges (27,28) are provided, where each assembly flange is provided with an aperture (30) on either side of the web (9), where said aperture (30) is surrounded by an upstanding circumferential ridge (31), said ridge on its distal end being provided with centering and engagement means (32), such that as two sprocket wheel parts (10,11) are assembled to a sprocket wheel (1), the centering and engagement means (32) on a first sprocket wheel part (10) engages and centers the corresponding centering and engagement means (32) on the second sprocket wheel part (11), whereby the apertures (30) on the first and second sprocket wheel parts (10,11) overlap, and assembly bolts (33) may be inserted in order to connect and fix the two parts of the sprocket wheel to each other.