Help building curved conveyor belt sushi train

[Spins]

First time posting on Eurobricks so please correct me if I am doing something wrong!

Seeking advice on how to best build a curved part of a conveyor belt.

 

Japanese sushi train conveyor belt is what I hope to recreate, they look like this in real life

Static Image of the belt: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conveyor_belt_sushi#/media/File:Sushi_conyeyor_chain_3.jpg

 

Straight portions can be done using tracks and treads but I cannot come up with a simple conveyor belt mechanism that can turn corners smoothly (can start with either 45 or 90 degrees, not necessarily 180 like the video). I have found a smaller scale project but only has 1x2 miniature sushi - I am hoping for at least 6x6 so that it can carry real sushi plates.

 

Idea is very similar to airport carousel (baggage claim with similar curved surface like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDiEYIW528Y) and also conveyor belts used in factories (stacked surface https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOAIySHPBlM) but I cannot find any LEGO technic sample projects with curved conveyor belt anywhere.

 

Any suggestions for how to build bent/curved conveyor belt that can carry small sushi plates the size of a palm?

[Alex Ilea]

Use the 5 wide tracks and mount them sideways to get any angles you want, and build on the sides of the tracks.

[aeh5040]

Maybe this could provide a starting point:

https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?/forums/topic/49988-tomaszajacs-lego-mindstorms-caterpillar/

Although to be honest I'm not sure exactly how the tracks are constructed. The designer gives a remarkably large number of pictures while somehow not giving much clue about this crucial detail!

Perhaps some of our reverse engineering experts can help...

Edited February 17, 2023 by aeh5040

[The_Cook]

It looks like there is a Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Double Split connected to the liftarm and then Technic, Axle Connector Double - Flexible Rubber to connect the aforementioned connectors together into a chain.

Sushi belts work because of the curves sliding across each other, something that is going to be hard to mimic with Lego pieces.
 

[Maaboo the Witch]

Believe it or not, you can just get sushi in a pack now, without having to use a belt.

[Andman]

Not a Lego version but still self-made. Maybe you can get some inspiration from it.

 

[aeh5040]

8 hours ago, The_Cook said:

It looks like there is a Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Perpendicular Double Split connected to the liftarm and then Technic, Axle Connector Double - Flexible Rubber to connect the aforementioned connectors together into a chain.

Yes, I think you are right. So quite a bit of stretching of the rubber for it to bend.

[roeltheworld]

Could you use large tracks at 90 degrees and with pins hold up a circular platform in intervals. You can place a disc half a length under the top ones to create a chain without large holes. I'll see if I can whip up an image in studio in a moment.

[roeltheworld]

Like this maybe? I coloured the discs orange to help visibility.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/irkkyj5gb749sh2/conveyor01.io/file

 

 

[Spins]

On 2/17/2023 at 6:00 PM, roeltheworld said:

Like this maybe? I coloured the discs orange to help visibility.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/irkkyj5gb749sh2/conveyor01.io/file

 

 

Sorry for the late response, have been in middle of some life events and it is unlikely I will get to this project until we are finished moving.....

 

Blown away by the quality of work here, I just posted for the first time and somebody's already found some sample project and got a prototype alongside some witty comments (as any fun forum should have). Thank you all, I hope to be back once we're ready to buy parts

[aeh5040]

On 2/18/2023 at 1:00 AM, roeltheworld said:

Like this maybe? I coloured the discs orange to help visibility.

https://www.mediafire.com/file/irkkyj5gb749sh2/conveyor01.io/file

 

 

This looks like a good idea. As a variation, the chain itself could be built out of liftarms (in various ways), potentially providing a stronger basis to attach the discs to.

 

On 2/22/2023 at 3:35 AM, Spins said:

Sorry for the late response, have been in middle of some life events and it is unlikely I will get to this project until we are finished moving....

Blown away by the quality of work here, I just posted for the first time and somebody's already found some sample project and got a prototype alongside some witty comments (as any fun forum should have). Thank you all, I hope to be back once we're ready to buy parts

Thanks for the post. It would be nice to see more discussions like this. Someone asks an interesting technical question, then lots of people chip in with ideas. I feel like there was more of this in the past (OK "good old days" rant over!)