Conveyor Bed Angle Adjustment Mechanism for Jam Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems face challenges in handling products of varying sizes and shapes due to fixed orientation of rollers, leading to jamming and reduced throughput, as they are not adaptable to different product dimensions and require manual intervention or limited speed adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor bed with an angle adjustment mechanism featuring a sled and actuable component that pivots a slanted rail to alter the angle of the roller frame, allowing for customizable orientation and speed adjustments using an electric actuator and speed reducing mechanism, enabling efficient handling of diverse products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the roller frame angle is fixed, then the conveyor structure is simple, but the conveyor cannot accommodate products of varying sizes and shapes, leading to jamming and reduced throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The roller frame is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamically adjustable one. The angle adjustment mechanism allows the roller frame to pivot between horizontal and inclined positions, enabling the conveyor to adapt to different product sizes and shapes while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclination angle of the roller frame is changed as a variable parameter. By adjusting the angle between 0 degrees (horizontal) and approximately 45 degrees (inclined), the conveyor can accommodate various product dimensions and prevent jamming, while the adjustment mechanism keeps the overall structure relatively simple.
2Productivity
If manual intervention is used to adjust conveyor orientation, then the structure remains simple, but productivity decreases due to limited speed adjustments and manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
Manual mechanical adjustment is replaced with an automated actuation system. The actuable component converts rotational input into linear motion to drive the angle adjustment mechanism, enabling automatic orientation changes without manual intervention and increasing conveyor throughput and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system performs preliminary angle adjustment before product transport begins. The actuable component pre-positions the roller frame at the optimal angle for the incoming product type, ensuring smooth operation and maximizing throughput without requiring mid-operation manual adjustments.
3Productivity
If the roller frame angle is adjusted for different products, then product handling efficiency improves, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angle adjustment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the actuable component for input, the sled for motion transmission, and the wheel-rail system for guided movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled acts as an intermediary element between the actuable component and the roller frame. It translates the linear motion from the actuable component into the pivoting motion required for angle adjustment, simplifying the direct connection and reducing mechanism complexity while maintaining handling efficiency.
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 mechanism allows for high-speed rotation of products of various sizes and shapes by dynamically adjusting the roller frame's angle and conveyor zone speeds, enhancing throughput and reducing manual intervention by accommodating different product dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
An actuable component coupled to the sled, wherein the actuable component is configured to move the sled back and forth linearly along the first rail using the first wheel in response to rotation of the actuable component
Implementation Method 2
a second wheel movable on a second rail, wherein the second rail is a slanted pivotable rail
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor bed is provided that can include a conveyor frame, a roller frame and an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism can include a first wheel movable on a first rail and a second wheel movable on a second rail. A sled can be coupled to a bottom face of the roller frame, where an inner face of the sled is in contact with the first wheel and the first rail and an outer face of the sled is in contact with the second wheel and the second rail. An actuable component coupled to the sled, wherein the actuable component is configured to move the sled back and forth linearly along the first rail using the first wheel in response to rotation of the actuable component, wherein a movement of the sled rotates the second wheel and pivots the second rail to alter an angle of the roller frame.