Closed-Loop Cogged Belt Guide Channels for Stable Product Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems using a closed loop cogged belt with a vertical axis face issues with the stability and orientation of support elements due to flexion stresses and impacts during movement, leading to potential coupling failures and noise, especially when transitioning between straight and curved belt portions.
Innovation Solution
A guide system with continuous upper and lower channels and sliding elements that allow the fixing elements to rotate and translate perpendicular to the belt's vertical axis, maintaining constant contact with channel edges, ensuring stable support element orientation and smooth belt activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If sliding block elements are used to maintain support element stability, then product orientation is improved, but insertion reliability deteriorates due to impacts and stresses during transition between curved and straight belt portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide channels as intermediary structures that guide the sliding block elements during their movement between curved and straight belt portions. These guide channels act as mediators that prevent direct impacts and stresses on the sliding blocks, ensuring reliable insertion and maintenance of support element stability without the harmful effects of abrupt transitions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If sliding block elements are constrained in straight guides, then support element stability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional guide structures and potential sticking issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide channel functionality directly into the belt structure itself, rather than adding separate external guide mechanisms. The guide channels are integrated as part of the belt's construction, combining the guiding function with the existing belt structure and eliminating the need for additional complex guide systems while maintaining support element stability.
3Strength
If fixing elements are rigidly coupled to the cogged belt, then coupling strength is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to flexion stresses and impacts during belt activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sliding block elements that can move dynamically along the belt during its activation. Instead of rigidly fixed coupling, the fixing elements are designed with sliding blocks that can adjust their position and orientation in response to the belt's movement, maintaining coupling strength while accommodating the dynamic stresses and impacts during belt operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport system of products according to a closed looped transport path, comprising: a cogged belt wound in a closed loop; a series of support elements of the products, coupled in a cantilever fashion to the cogged belt; a series of fixing elements, configured so as to be arranged internally of the cogged belt for fixing the support elements in a cantilever fashion to the cogged belt, and a guide system for the fixing elements.