Chain Transport System with Half-Pitch Curves Against Polygon Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transport systems with chain-like elements face challenges due to the polygon effect, leading to increased wear and noise during switching steps, especially when moving in cycles larger than the pitch distance, which requires compensating curves but results in dynamic movement influences and synchronization issues.
Innovation Solution
A transport system with a closed, multiple-deflected loop design featuring compensating curves that extend over half the pitch angle of the sprocket engagement areas, providing uniform chain tension and avoiding dynamic movement influences, thus reducing wear and improving synchronism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If compensating curves are used to avoid the polygon effect, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional guide elements and curved paths
Solution Approach 1:
The transport pallet guides are pre-configured with the specific angular offset (half the pitch angle) before operation. This preliminary geometric configuration automatically compensates for the polygon effect during chain wheel rotation, eliminating the need for active control or complex real-time adjustments while maintaining high positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the guide path from a standard linear or simple curved path to a specifically designed compensating curve with a defined angular range. This parameter change in the guide geometry directly counteracts the polygon effect, improving positioning precision without requiring complex control systems
2Productivity
If the chain wheel rotates in steps larger than the pitch distance, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased wear and noise from dynamic movement influences
Solution Approach 1:
The compensating curves are designed to preemptively counteract the dynamic movement influences and polygon effect that occur during multi-pitch switching. By pre-configuring the guide geometry to offset these harmful effects, the system enables faster switching speeds without the usual increase in wear and noise, thus improving productivity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The transport system utilizes periodic switching steps that are synchronized with the chain wheel rotation. By designing the compensating curves to work effectively during these periodic multi-pitch switching events, the system achieves high productivity through faster cycling while the periodic nature allows the compensating geometry to consistently mitigate wear and noise throughout the operational cycle
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transport system for conveying objects along a transport route according to the preamble of claim 1. The transport system according to the invention is characterized in that the compensating curves each extend over an angular range that corresponds to half the pitch angle of the sprocket engagement or carrying areas.