Configurable Conveyor for Weighing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems in high-speed packaging operations often cause oscillation or wobble in products with irregular surfaces, leading to inaccuracies in weighing and labeling due to shock loading and misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A configurable weighing conveyor apparatus with adjustable conveyor members that can be set to various angles, including V-shaped configurations, to reduce shock loading and improve stability, using a two-part design with independently adjustable conveyor members and vibration dampening systems to accommodate products with non-flat bottoms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional flat horizontal conveyor is used to transport products at high speed, then productivity is improved, but product stability deteriorates causing oscillation and wobble
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system transitions from a static flat horizontal configuration to a dynamic adjustable configuration. The conveyor members can be adjusted to different angles and configurations (flat, V-shaped, inclined) depending on the product type and processing requirements, allowing the system to adapt and maintain product stability at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the conveyor surface by adjusting the angle and configuration of conveyor members. This parameter adjustment allows the conveyor to accommodate products with non-flat bottoms and maintain stability during high-speed transport without sacrificing productivity
2Device complexity
If a flat horizontal conveyor is used for weighing operations, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to shock loading and wobble
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing conveyor incorporates adjustable conveyor members that can be configured to reduce product oscillation and shock loading during weighing operations. This dynamic adjustment capability improves measurement precision while maintaining reasonable device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor angle and configuration parameters are adjusted to optimize weighing conditions. By changing the geometric parameters of the conveyor surface, the system minimizes shock loading and product movement during weighing, thereby improving measurement accuracy
3Ease of operation
If a flat horizontal conveyor is used for labeling operations, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to orientational misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system allows dynamic adjustment of the conveyor members to maintain proper product orientation during transport to the labeling station. This ensures that products arrive at the labeling position with correct alignment, improving label placement accuracy while keeping the operation straightforward
4Stability of the object's composition
If conveyor members are made adjustable to accommodate non-flat bottom products, then product stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into separate adjustable conveyor members that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows each member to be adjusted to optimize product stability without requiring complex integrated mechanisms, thereby managing device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable conveyor members are designed to perform multiple functions: they can be configured for stable transport of non-flat bottom products, optimized for weighing operations, and adjusted for proper orientation during labeling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, managing overall device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for weighing and labeling of a product in a high speed processing environment includes an entry conveyor having an entry end and an exit end. A weighing conveyor has an entry end for receiving the product from the exit end of the entry conveyor and an exit end from which the product is delivered from the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor is operatively mounted to a weighing device to produce product weight information for the product being transported on the weighing conveyor. The weighing conveyor includes a first conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor and a second conveyor member extending from the entry end to the exit end of the weighing conveyor. The first and second conveyor members operate cooperatively to convey the product from the entry end toward the exit end. A first angle measured from the first conveyor member to the second conveyor member is adjustable prior to a conveying operation to accommodate a bottom of the product so as to reduce shock loading on the weighing device as the product is transferred from the entry conveyor to the weighing conveyor.