Flexible Cover for Climbing Sorter Gap Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Climbing sorters often experience issues with objects slipping and becoming trapped between load-carrying devices, leading to damage and blockages, especially during transitions between different rail sections.
Innovation Solution
A flexible intermediate cover is arranged between load-carrying devices, forming a stair structure in rising and falling sections, which sags in flat sections and stretches in inclined sections to prevent objects from becoming trapped by pushing them onto downstream load-carrying devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If objects are transported on load-handling devices through ascending sections, then transportation efficiency is improved, but objects can slip and become trapped between devices causing damage and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible intermediate cover is introduced as a mediator element between adjacent load-handling devices. This cover prevents objects from slipping into gaps between devices during ascending transport, eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining transportation functionality. The cover is attached to both devices and forms a protective barrier that guides objects safely.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate cover is made of flexible material that can adapt to the movement and positioning of load-handling devices. This flexibility allows the cover to maintain its protective function while accommodating the dynamic nature of the sorting system, preventing objects from becoming trapped without interfering with normal operations.
2Quantity of substance
If load-handling devices are positioned close together to increase capacity, then transportation capacity is improved, but objects can become trapped in the gaps between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible intermediate cover serves as a mediator that fills the gap between closely positioned load-handling devices. It allows the devices to be positioned close together for increased capacity while preventing objects from entering the gaps, thus eliminating the harmful trapping effect.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the guide rail has ascending and sloping sections for vertical transport, then sorting versatility is improved, but objects can slip and be crushed during slope transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible intermediate cover acts as a protective mediator during slope transitions. It prevents objects from slipping off load-handling devices and being crushed by subsequent devices, while allowing the guide rail to maintain its ascending and sloping sections for versatile sorting operations.
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 ensures safe transportation of objects by preventing them from slipping between load-carrying devices and getting crushed, maintaining the flow of objects through the sorter even during changes in rail slope.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible intermediate cover can sag and/or form a trough when the two load-handling devices are located in the flat section
Implementation Method 2
The flexible intermediate cover can be pulled apart when the two load-handling devices are located in the inclined section
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a ladder sorter (1) for transporting objects (2), preferably packages, wherein the ladder sorter (1) has a guide rail (3) and a plurality of load-handling elements (4) movable along the guide rail (3) in a transport direction (T), wherein the ladder sorter (1) has a rising section (6) and/or a descending section (14), characterized in that a flexible intermediate cover (8) is arranged between two load-handling elements (4) and/or attached to respective carriages (7) of the load-handling elements (4), wherein the load-handling elements (4) together with the flexible intermediate cover (8) form a stair structure (100) in the rising section (6) and/or the descending section (14). The invention further relates to a method for transporting an object (2) with a ladder sorter (1).