Arc Conveyor Belt Deflection for Print-Free Package Transport
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems for cuboid packs, such as cigarette packs, face challenges in mechanical stress and performance during deflection, particularly in maintaining print-free surfaces and ensuring smooth, slip-free transport along arcuate paths.
Innovation Solution
The use of smooth-surfaced belts, including an inner belt and two outer belts, resting on rotating support surfaces, with the belts being deflected by a common deflection element like a driven roller, absorbs forces and maintains pack surfaces print-free, allowing for efficient transport without friction or slippage along semi-circular or quarter-circle paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If packages are conveyed along arc-shaped conveyor tracks using conventional belts and rollers, then the packages can be redirected to different directions, but the packages experience mechanical stress and pressure that can damage their surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a radially movable guide element as an intermediary between the conveyor belts and the packages. This guide element mediates the force transmission, allowing the belts to convey packages along arc-shaped paths while the guide element absorbs and redirects the mechanical stresses, preventing direct pressure on the package surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide element is designed to be radially movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during the conveying process. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to accommodate the changing geometric relationships between belts and packages along the arc-shaped path, maintaining optimal force distribution and minimizing stress on packages.
2Stability of the object's composition
If fixed guides are used to maintain package alignment during deflection, then packages can be kept in proper position, but the packages experience increased mechanical stress and potential surface damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element is designed with radial movability, transforming it from a static fixed guide to a dynamic element that can adjust its position. This allows the guide to maintain package alignment while accommodating the geometric changes during arc-shaped conveying, distributing forces more evenly and reducing stress concentrations on package surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the guide element (radial position) to optimize its function. By adjusting the radial position of the movable guide element, the system can maintain proper package alignment during deflection while minimizing mechanical stress, effectively adapting the guide's location to the specific conveying phase.
3Productivity
If conventional conveyor systems are used for deflection, then packages can be transported along curved paths, but print-free surfaces may be compromised due to pressure and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The radially movable guide element serves as a mediator that separates the force transmission function from direct contact with package surfaces. The conveyor belts maintain productivity by efficiently transporting packages along arc-shaped paths, while the guide element intercepts and redirects mechanical forces, preventing them from acting directly on the package surfaces and thus preserving print-free surfaces.
4Ease of operation
If multiple belts are used to transport packages along arc-shaped paths, then conveying capability is improved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially movable guide element is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it guides package alignment, mediates force transmission between belts and packages, and accommodates geometric changes during arc-shaped conveying. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining enhanced conveying capability.
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
This solution enhances the mechanical handling and performance of cuboid packs by ensuring they are transported without pressure or damage, maintaining print-free surfaces and enabling efficient packing into rows, while allowing for flexible introduction of new packs into the transport stream.
Implementation Method 1
The packages are transported in the deflection area by preferably smooth belts, namely at least one inner belt and one outer belt, wherein the belts in the deflection area rest against preferably moving support or contact surfaces, so that the forces arising from the deflection of the belts are absorbed by the fixed contact surfaces.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
For the deflection of packages (10), a deflection unit (19) is provided with a radially inner belt conveyor for the packages (10) - feeder (18) - and preferably two radially outer outer belts (25, 26) arranged at axial distances from each other, so that the packages (10) are captured and transported in the deflection area inside and outside by synchronously driven conveyors.