Conveying Apparatus with Segmented Films for Battery Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lithium battery conveying apparatuses using synchronous belts often result in battery displacement during processing, leading to inaccurate positioning and waste due to their flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A conveying apparatus with movable supporting films and a drive conveying mechanism that includes linear sliding tables, lifting push blocks, and wedge blocks, allowing for precise up-and-down and forward-and-backward movement of batteries, ensuring accurate and efficient transfer between processing stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a synchronous belt is used for conveying batteries, then conveying efficiency is improved, but positioning accuracy deteriorates due to belt flexibility causing battery displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying efficiencyVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The synchronous belt is divided into multiple rigid segments (first conveyor belt segment, second conveyor belt segment, third conveyor belt segment) connected by rotating joints. This segmentation maintains the overall conveying function while eliminating the flexibility that causes positioning errors, as each rigid segment maintains fixed geometric relationships with its neighbors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating joints between conveyor belt segments are designed to rotate only when batteries need to change direction at station entrances/exits. During normal conveying, the joints remain fixed, making the entire belt system rigid and positioning-accurate, thus dynamically adapting the system's rigidity based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If a synchronous belt is used for conveying, then conveying speed is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates due to battery displacement during the conveying process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying speedVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The high-speed conveying function is maintained through the coordinated rotation of multiple rigid belt segments, while the segmentation itself prevents the flexibility-induced displacement that would compromise positioning precision during high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating joints act as intermediaries that enable high-speed conveying by allowing controlled movement between rigid segments only when necessary, while maintaining rigidity during steady-state high-speed conveying to ensure positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If flexible synchronous belt is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inaccurate positioning causing waste products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying flexibilityVSAvoidpositioning reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The belt system is segmented into rigid sections that can be independently controlled, providing the operational flexibility needed for different conveying scenarios while ensuring positioning reliability through the rigidity of each segment and the controlled rotation at joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between flexible and rigid states: the rotating joints enable flexibility when batteries need to turn at stations, but lock into fixed positions during straight conveying to ensure positioning reliability, thus adapting to operational requirements in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The apparatus enables quick and accurate conveyance of lithium batteries to next stations, reducing waste and improving processing efficiency by maintaining precise positioning throughout the conveying process.

Implementation Method 1

a first lifting wedge block and a first translation slide base; wherein the first translation slide base is located below the first movable supporting film and the second movable supporting film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge: Wedge

Implementation Method 2

the first lifting push block is located below the first translation slide base, and a bottom of the first lifting push block is fixed on a slider block of the first linear sliding table

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew: Screw

Data Source

PatentUS11078031B2Conveying apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.08.03 WUHAN YIFI LASER CORP LTD
  • US11078031B2 patent drawing
  • US11078031B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A conveying apparatus, comprising a drive conveying sub-apparatus. The drive conveying sub-apparatus comprises a first movable supporting film (81), a second movable supporting film (82), a first fixed supporting film (71), and a drive conveying mechanism. The first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) are respectively located at both sides of the first fixed supporting film (71). The first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) are both slidably connected with the drive conveying mechanism, so that the drive conveying mechanism drives the first movable supporting film (81) and the second movable supporting film (82) to move up and down and move forward and backward. The first movable supporting film (81), the second movable supporting film (82), and the first fixed supporting film (71) are all provided with grooves having sizes matched with the size of an object to be conveyed. The conveying apparatus can quickly and accurately convey the object to a next station.