Compact Conveyor Device for Industrial Workpiece Return and Turning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment machines are limited by bulky devices that restrict production capacity due to the need for separate conveyor belts and manual handling for outward and return transport of parts, requiring inefficient manual turning and limited coverage of the treatment surface.
Innovation Solution
An integrated device with dual conveyor belts, each driven by a motor and featuring a driving drum and idler drum, operating in opposite directions, allowing for simultaneous outward and return transport and automatic part turning within a single frame, enabling continuous surface treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate conveyor belts are used for outward and return transport, then manual handling and turning are required, but the device becomes bulky and production capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outward transport belt and return transport belt into a single integrated conveyor structure. The turning mechanism is integrated at the end of the conveyor, combining multiple functions (transport + turning) into one compact unit. This eliminates the need for separate external conveyor systems and manual handling, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt system is designed to perform multiple functions: outward transport of parts, return transport of turned parts, and integration with the turning mechanism. The single conveyor structure serves both transport directions and works in conjunction with the integrated turner, making the device multi-functional and compact rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Ease of operation
If separate conveyor belts are used for outward and return transport, then manual turning is required, but production capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated turning mechanism automatically turns parts at the end of the conveyor belt without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by incorporating the turning function into the automated conveyor system, eliminating the need for operators to manually turn parts. This automation directly increases production capacity while reducing manual operation requirements.
3Ease of operation
If external curved and straight belts are used, then parts can be brought back to the operator, but the device is bulky and limits production capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the outward and return conveyor belts into a single integrated structure with the turning mechanism, eliminating the need for external curved and straight belts. The return transport is achieved through the same compact structure that performs outward transport, significantly reducing the device volume while maintaining the ability to return parts to the operator position.
4Device complexity
If a single conveyor belt is used for both outward and return transport, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment surface coverage must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The single conveyor belt structure is designed to handle both outward and return transport while the integrated turning mechanism ensures that parts are properly oriented for treatment on both faces. The compact design maintains full treatment surface coverage by processing parts sequentially through the same treatment zone, eliminating the need for larger separate conveyor systems.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
AI summary
Device for transporting, turning over and surface-treating components (5) moved by conveyor belts (2 and 3) associated with drive motors (13) that drive each of the belts (2 and 3) in opposite directions in order to transport components in one direction and then back again once said components have been turned over. The invention is characterized in that each of the drive motors (13) of the conveyor belts (2 or 3) is associated with a spindle mounted on bearings and on which spindle are mounted: a driving drum for driving a conveyor belt (2) in the outbound direction and an idle drum mounted on roller bearings for the conveyor belt (3) in the return direction, so that said conveyor belts (2 and 3) are positioned side by side in the same chassis.