Controlled Product Discharge Conveyor With Intermediate Pusher Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for transporting and discharging products are inefficient for handling products with relatively small dimensions, requiring over-dimensioned components and lengthy receiving units due to variable discharge locations, and are not optimized for standardized components across different product sizes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a pushing member guide that moves between extreme positions, with a control system forcing the pushing member to an intermediate position at the loading station, defining a limited region for product placement, and uses oblique guides and actuators to ensure consistent discharge positioning, allowing for shorter receiving units and standardized components across different product sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pushing member is allowed to move freely between first and second extreme positions, then the apparatus can handle products of various sizes, but the receiving unit length becomes considerable and the apparatus is over-dimensioned for small products
Solution Approach 1:
The pushing member is made dynamically controllable through the control system that can selectively drive the pushing member along the pushing member guide. The control system receives product dimension information and adjusts the pushing member position accordingly, transitioning from a static free-moving mechanism to a dynamic controlled one that adapts to different product sizes, thereby reducing the required receiving unit length for small products while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the position parameter of the pushing member based on product dimensions. By receiving product dimension information and adjusting the pushing member position to an optimal point between the first and second extreme positions, the system optimizes the discharge location for different product sizes, reducing the maximum receiving unit length requirement while maintaining adaptability across various product dimensions.
2Ease of operation
If the pushing member displacement takes a certain period of time, then the pushing member can reach extreme positions, but the exact discharge location varies depending on product dimensions and placement position
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives product dimension information as feedback and uses this information to calculate and select the optimal pushing member position. This closed-loop control ensures that the discharge location is precise and consistent for different product sizes and placement positions, eliminating the variability that would occur with fixed or uncontrolled pushing member displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system determines the optimal pushing member position in advance based on product dimension information before the actual discharge operation. By pre-calculating the optimal position between the first and second extreme positions, the system ensures precise discharge location without requiring the pushing member to traverse the entire range, thereby maintaining ease of operation while improving precision.
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized transport units are used for different product sizes, then component standardization is achieved, but the apparatus is over-dimensioned for small products
Solution Approach 1:
The control system enables a single standardized transport unit to handle multiple product size categories by dynamically adjusting the pushing member position. The same transport unit with standardized components can optimally discharge small, medium, and large products by receiving product dimension information and selecting appropriate pushing member positions, eliminating the need for different sized transport units for different product ranges and reducing overall apparatus dimensions.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (1) for transport and controlled discharge of products (P) comprises at least a transport unit (2) for supporting a product (P), a loading station (LS), a discharging station (DS) and driving means for transporting the transport unit (2) in a conveying direction (X) from the loading station (LS) to the discharging station (DS). The transport unit (2) comprises a pushing member (5) for pushing a product (P) from the upper surface in transverse direction (Y) of the conveying direction (X) when the transport unit (2) is at the discharging station (DS), a pushing member guide (6) for guiding the pushing member (5) in the transverse direction (Y) between a first extreme position (EP1) and a second extreme position (EP2) for removing a product (P) from the upper surface when the pushing member (5) is moved in a direction from the first extreme position (EP1) to the second extreme position (EP2). The apparatus (1) comprises a control system (7, 9, 11) for selectively driving the pushing member (5) along the pushing member guide (6) during movement of the transport unit (2) in the conveying direction (X). The control system (7, 9, 11) is adapted such that at least at the loading station (LS) the pushing member (5) is located at an intermediate position (IP) between the first extreme position (EP1) and the second extreme position (EP2) .