Accumulation Conveyor with Accelerating Means and Movable Bearing Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyors face issues with back line pressure, excessive loading, and high wear due to friction when articles accumulate, and existing solutions like zone accumulation and indexing conveyors require multiple drives and sensors, which are costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a modular plastic belt and rotatable rollers that allow free rotation in the upstream zone and frictional contact in the downstream zone, using a selectively movable bearing surface to reduce back line pressure and enable continuous operation without stopping, allowing for efficient accumulation and release of articles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a continuously moving conveyor belt is used to transport articles, then productivity is improved, but back line pressure increases causing article damage and excessive loading
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple zones with different friction characteristics. The upstream portion has high friction for accumulation, while the downstream portion has low friction for release, allowing continuous operation without back line pressure damage to articles
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the conveyor belt are given different surface properties - the upstream section has high friction coefficient for effective accumulation, while the downstream section has low friction coefficient for smooth release, resolving the contradiction between continuous transport and back line pressure
2Object-affected harmful factors
If zone accumulation with multiple drives and sensors is used to eliminate back line pressure, then back line pressure is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The accumulation and release functions are merged into a single continuous conveyor belt with different friction zones, eliminating the need for separate accumulation and indexing conveyors and their associated multiple drives and sensors
Solution Approach 2:
A single conveyor belt performs multiple functions - accumulation in the upstream high-friction zone and release in the downstream low-friction zone - replacing what would traditionally require separate specialized conveyors
3Object-affected harmful factors
If roller-top belts with freely rotatable rollers are used to reduce friction, then back line pressure is lowered, but the system requires separate indexing conveyor with high-friction surface
Solution Approach 1:
The roller-top belt and indexing conveyor functions are merged into a single continuous belt with variable friction zones, eliminating the need for separate conveying zones and their transfer points where articles are susceptible to tipping
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces back line pressure, minimizes conveyor wear, and allows for continuous operation with a single driven belt, eliminating the need for multiple drives and sensors, thus addressing the shortcomings of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Friction between the conveying surface of the moving belt and the backed-up, or accumulated, articles causes the articles to push against each other
Implementation Method 2
accelerating means in the downstream zone for accelerating articles in the direction of belt travel
Data Source
Figure 1~2C
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An accumulation-and-release conveyor using a roller belt with rollers arranged to rotate in the direction of belt travel. The rollers extend through the thickness of the belt. A movable stop is positioned along the carryway just downstream of a bearing surface that is movable into and out of contact with the rollers. When the bearing surface is out of contact with the rollers, they are freely rotatable; when the bearing surface contacts the rollers, they roll on the bearing surface to propel articles in the direction of belt travel. The stop is selectively moved between a blocking position preventing articles from passing and accumulating them with low back line pressure on the freely rotatable rollers and a release position allowing articles to pass to the accumulation zone where they are propelled forward and separated from each other by the rotation of the rollers rolling on the bearing surface.