Adaptive Pusher Stroke for Conveyor Article Rejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional divert systems struggle to reliably and gently reject articles with varying lateral offsets from a conveyor belt, often resulting in insufficient or excessive strokes that can damage articles or cause jamming, and existing solutions like light barriers are costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Monitoring a measurement signal for the first contact between the pusher and the article allows for a selective and adaptive stroke, eliminating the need for pre-stroke measurements, using sensors to detect contact and adjust the stroke based on the article's resistance and type, ensuring accurate and reliable diversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a fixed nominal divert stroke is used for all articles, then the divert system is simple to operate, but articles with lateral offset may be damaged or jammed due to insufficient or excessive stroke

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of divert system operationVSAvoidreliability of article rejection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the divert stroke adaptive rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the divert stroke dynamically based on the detected lateral offset of each article, allowing the system to respond to varying conditions while maintaining simple operation through automated adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using sensors to detect the lateral offset of articles and feeding this information back to the control device. The control device then adjusts the divert stroke based on this feedback, ensuring reliable rejection while preventing damage through continuous monitoring and adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the divert stroke is increased to accommodate maximum lateral offset, then all articles can be diverted, but articles may be pressed against boundary railings and damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle varying lateral offsetsVSAvoiddamage to articles from excessive stroke

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the divert stroke based on the actual lateral offset detected for each article. This prevents using a universally large stroke that would damage all articles, instead applying only the necessary stroke magnitude for each individual article's position

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of divert stroke magnitude based on the detected lateral offset. By varying this critical parameter according to actual article position, the system achieves adaptability while preventing the harmful effect of excessive stroke that would press articles against railings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If a light barrier arrangement is used to detect lateral offset, then detection accuracy is improved, but equipment complexity and cost increase considerably

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of lateral offset detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of detection equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex optical detection systems (light barriers) with simpler sensor-based detection. The sensors detect lateral offset through mechanical or electrical means (such as position sensors detecting the article's location relative to the pusher), achieving sufficient measurement precision without the complexity and cost of optical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses simpler, more cost-effective sensors instead of expensive light barrier arrangements. These simpler sensors provide adequate detection precision for lateral offset measurement while significantly reducing equipment complexity and cost, making the system more economically viable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Strength

If the divert stroke is minimized to prevent damage, then article integrity is maintained, but articles with lateral offset cannot be reliably diverted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegrity of articles during diversionVSAvoidreliability of diversion for articles with lateral offset

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the divert stroke magnitude based on the detected lateral offset. For articles closer to the center, a smaller stroke is used to maintain integrity, while for articles with larger lateral offset, the stroke is increased to ensure reliable diversion, thus balancing both requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9315340B2Method for rejecting an article

Publication Date: 2016.04.19 KRONES AG

AI summary

A method for rejecting an article from a sequence of transported articles, wherein the establishment of a first contact between a pusher and the article to be rejected is detected by at least one measurement signal, and wherein a desired stroke is carried out for diverting the article, starting from the detected contact. Errors regarding a different lateral offset of the articles to be rejected and blind strokes caused thereby can thus be reduced.