Conveyor Accumulation Buffer for Glass Heat Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor devices and furnaces for continuous heat treatment of glass containers are bulky, with conveyor length directly correlated to treatment duration, and suffer from suboptimal temperature curves due to heat dispersion at the inlet and outlet of the tunnel chamber.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor device with an accumulation buffer and a relative furnace featuring a compact design with a heating chamber that optimizes temperature curves, utilizing a structure with chains, shuttles, and piece-carrying trays with lifting and lowering mechanisms, and a height-adjustable transfer slide to manage tray stacking and movement within a heating chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a conventional conveyor device is used for continuous heat treatment, then the treatment duration can be maintained, but the device becomes bulky and occupies substantial space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces vertical stacking of multiple buffer columns (first buffer column and second buffer column arranged one above the other) to replace horizontal conveyor extension. This dimensional transition from horizontal to vertical space utilization allows maintaining treatment duration while significantly reducing the horizontal footprint and overall bulk of the device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested accumulation buffers where multiple buffer columns are stacked vertically within a compact structure. The first and second buffer columns are positioned one above the other, with trays nested within columns, creating a space-efficient configuration that maintains functional capacity while reducing device volume.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a long conveyor is used to maintain treatment duration, then the treatment time can be ensured, but the conveyor length increases and device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the horizontal conveyor layout into a vertical stacking arrangement with multiple buffer columns arranged vertically. This allows the heat treatment process to occur in a compact horizontal footprint while maintaining adequate treatment duration through vertical buffer accumulation and controlled tray release mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple independent buffer columns (first and second buffer columns) with separate tray stacks. Each column can independently accumulate and release trays, allowing parallel processing and reducing the need for long sequential conveyor paths, thereby maintaining treatment duration with shorter overall device length.
3Productivity
If a conventional tunnel furnace is used, then continuous heat treatment can be performed, but heat dispersion at inlet and outlet causes suboptimal temperature curves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from a conventional tunnel furnace configuration and concentrates it into a compact heating chamber positioned between the buffer columns. This localized heating approach eliminates the extended tunnel structure that causes heat dispersion at inlet and outlet, thereby achieving optimal temperature curves while maintaining continuous heat treatment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the accumulation buffer function and heating function into a compact integrated structure where buffer columns are positioned on opposite sides of a central heating chamber. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate long conveyor and tunnel furnace sections, reducing heat dispersion and optimizing temperature control while maintaining continuous processing.
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 solution enables efficient, compact, and cost-effective continuous heat treatment of glass containers with optimized temperature control, allowing for flexible treatment duration and reduced bulk, while maintaining mechanical stability and operational simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of chains arranged on opposite sides of the structure that wind up in a closed loop onto end pulleys to define an upper conveying branch and a bottom return branch
Implementation Method 2
lifting and lowering means for carrying out the lifting of the tray at the base of a first buffer column of trays and the lowering of the tray at the base of a second buffer column of trays
Implementation Method 3
furnace for continuous heat treatment of glass containers equipped with a heating chamber
Implementation Method 4
continuous heat treatment of glass containers through a tunnel furnace
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A conveyor device with accumulation buffer, comprising a structure (12) and a pair of chains (13) arranged on opposite sides of the structure (12) that wind up in a closed loop onto end pulleys (14) to define an upper conveying branch and a bottom return branch, comprises a plurality of shuttles (20), hinged at opposite sides to the chains (13) and fastened in a tilting manner to the structure (12), as well as a plurality of piece-carrying trays (30), in which each of the piece-carrying trays can be stably but removably fastened to each of the shuttles (20), the piece-carrying trays (30) also being able to be stacked on top of one another to form buffer columns of trays (17, 18), the conveyor device (10) also comprising lifting and lowering means (40) respectively of a tray (30) at the base of a first buffer column (17) and of a tray (30) at the base of a second buffer column (18), said buffer columns (17, 18) being arranged in succession on the upper conveying branch in the direction of movement of the shuttles (20), as well as a horizontal transfer slide (50) of a top tray from the first column (17) to the second column (18). A relative furnace for continuous heat treatment of glass containers comprising the conveyor device is also part of the invention.