One-Sided Tiltable Trigger Pedal for Roller Conveyor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing trigger pedals for conveyor separator stops are prone to damage and costly due to their complex design and high average height, which makes them vulnerable to long-term use and difficult to assemble.

Innovation Solution

A one-sided tiltable trigger pedal with a limited height in its active position, where only one end protrudes into the conveying area, providing improved stability and ease of assembly, and allowing the other end to be fixed to the conveyor frame like regular rollers, reducing complexity and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex trigger pedal design with multiple components is used to ensure functionality during long-term use, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality during long-term useVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the trigger pedal with the roller support structure into a single integrated component. The pedal consists of a roller element that is directly mounted on an axis, eliminating the need for separate pedal frames, multiple rollers, and complex mounting mechanisms. This integration reduces the number of components while maintaining the ability to endure long-term operational stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The roller element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the trigger pedal for activating the separator stop and as a support roller for the conveyor belt. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the system while ensuring reliable operation throughout the conveyor's service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If the trigger pedal is made sturdy with multiple components to endure stress, then the strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to endure stressVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the pedal function and roller support into a single integrated component mounted on a common axis, the manufacturing process is simplified. Instead of assembling multiple separate parts (pedal frame, multiple rollers, mounting brackets), the design requires installing a single roller element on an axis, significantly reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural strength to endure operational stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the trigger pedal protrudes into the conveying area to be actuated by loads, then the ease of operation is improved, but the vulnerability to damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuation by downstream loadVSAvoidvulnerability to stress and damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The roller element is designed to rotate dynamically on its axis rather than being a fixed rigid structure. This rotational movement allows the pedal to be easily actuated by downstream loads while distributing the stress through rotation, reducing vulnerability to damage compared to a fixed rigid pedal design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of manufacture

If a one-sided tiltable pedal with limited height is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidfunctional durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The one-sided tiltable pedal design merges the trigger mechanism with the roller support function in a single component. This integration simplifies manufacturing and assembly while the roller's rotational capability ensures reliable operation over time by distributing mechanical stress and allowing smooth actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2517983B1Roller conveyor with a load separator
Publication Date: 2013.10.23 INTERROLL HLDG
  • EP2517983B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2
  • EP2517983B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP2517983B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A conveyor for conveying loads along a conveying direction comprises a frame (3) arranged in the conveying direction, a plurality of rollers (2) mounted in the frame (3) rotatable in the conveying direction (C), a trigger pedal (11) movable between an active position and a triggered position, a separator stop (12), and a coupling (13) between the trigger pedal (11) and the separator stop (12) for transmitting a movement applied to the trigger pedal (11) to the separator stop (12). The trigger pedal (11) is one-sided tiltable out of a substantially parallel to the rollers (2) arranged position.