Buffer Table Conveyor Speed Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing buffer tables for containers experience jerky acceleration during transitions, leading to containers potentially falling over, which requires high personnel intervention and disrupts operation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an inner conveyor belt that runs slower than the outer conveyor belt, with adjustable speed control, to reduce jerky acceleration and ensure upright transfer of containers, along with a transfer device that can adapt to container flows and formats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single-speed conveyor belt is used for container transfer, then the device structure is simple, but the containers experience jerky acceleration and may fall over

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer stability during transferVSAvoidconveyor belt structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor belt system is segmented into multiple independent conveyor belts (first conveyor belt and second conveyor belt) that can operate at different speeds. This segmentation allows each belt to be optimized for different stages of container transfer, reducing jerky acceleration while maintaining structural manageability through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the speed parameter of the conveyor belts during the transfer process. The first conveyor belt operates at a higher speed to receive containers, while the second conveyor belt operates at a lower speed to gently transfer them to the return track. This parameter change eliminates jerky acceleration and prevents containers from falling over

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the transfer device operates at high speed to match the feed track, then productivity is improved, but containers may fall over due to excessive acceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer transfer speedVSAvoidcontainer stability during transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the speed of different conveyor belts based on the transfer stage. The first conveyor belt maintains high speed for efficient container reception, while the second conveyor belt reduces speed for gentle transfer. This dynamic speed adjustment ensures both high productivity and container stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively reduces the risk of containers falling over during transfer, allowing for efficient and automated operation with reduced personnel requirements and improved handling of various container formats.

Implementation Method 1

The inner conveyor belt serves to reduce the speed difference between the outer conveyor belt and the transfer strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3023368B1Storage table for containers
Publication Date: 2017.05.31 KRONES AG
  • EP3023368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3023368B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A buffer table (1) for containers (2) is described, featuring counter-rotating infeed and return conveyors and an intermediate transfer strip (5). A transfer device, essentially transverse to the infeed conveyor, is also provided for transferring the containers from the infeed conveyor, over the transfer strip, and onto the return conveyor. The infeed and return conveyors each comprise an inner conveyor belt (8, 10) adjacent to the transfer strip and at least one outer conveyor belt driven at a faster speed. This reduces the acceleration of the containers during the transition to the infeed conveyor, reliably preventing upright containers from tipping over in the area of ​​the transfer device.