Twin Strand Conveyor Corner Assembly Pallet Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Twin strand chain conveyors face challenges in navigating corners and turns due to their design, which requires a secondary means of changing direction and often necessitates a separate power source for pallet transportation.

Innovation Solution

A twin strand chain conveyor system with a corner assembly that includes a powered drive for injecting and picking up pallets, utilizing a low friction gliding support and guides to enable smooth pallet movement through corners without the need for a separate power drive in the corner assembly, allowing continuous pallet conveyance around turns using the existing motorized drives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a twin strand chain conveyor is used for transporting pallets, then cost and noise are reduced, but the conveyor encounters challenges at corners and turns requiring a secondary means of changing direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor costVSAvoidcorner navigation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system is segmented into straight section conveyors and a separate corner assembly. The corner assembly is further segmented into injection rollers, gliding support, and pickup rollers that work independently to handle the turning function, allowing the main conveyor sections to remain simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A corner assembly acts as an intermediary device between straight conveyor sections. It includes an injection unit that transfers pallets from the first conveyor onto the corner assembly, and a pickup unit that transfers pallets from the corner assembly to the second conveyor, enabling direction change without modifying the main conveyor structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a lift and transfer system is used to change direction at corners, then pallets can be conveyed in another direction, but a second conveyance device with a different power source is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedirection changing capabilityVSAvoidpower source requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The corner assembly merges the functions of direction change and power transmission into a single integrated unit. The injection rollers and pickup rollers are both powered by the same motor that drives the first conveyor section, eliminating the need for separate power sources at corners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor driving the first conveyor section serves multiple functions: it powers both the straight section chains and the corner assembly injection rollers. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of power sources needed in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If powered rollers are used to drive pallets into and out of the corner assembly, then continuous pallet movement is enabled, but the corner assembly requires integration with existing motorized drives

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepallet movement continuityVSAvoiddrive integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The injection rollers are positioned to engage pallets before they fully enter the corner assembly, and the pickup rollers are positioned to engage pallets as they exit. This preliminary action ensures continuous movement without interruption or accumulation of pallets at the corner transition zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The corner assembly uses the motion and power already present in the first conveyor section to drive its own injection and pickup rollers. The system essentially serves itself by utilizing the existing motorized drive rather than requiring an independent power source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables uninterrupted pallet movement through corners by transferring support from conveyor chains to a low friction gliding surface within the corner assembly, eliminating the need for additional power sources and ensuring efficient navigation of turns with minimal interruption.

Implementation Method 1

The pucks present an underside of the pallet that enables the pallet to move through the corner assembly by gliding of the underside across a low friction support of the corner assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7708134B2Power conveyor with corner assembly and pallet therefor

Publication Date: 2010.05.04 FORI AUTOMATION INC

AI summary

A twin strand conveyor uses roller chains to move pallets along straight conveyor sections and an unpowered corner assembly that enables the pallets to glide around corners of the conveyor. The pallets are transferred from an upstream conveyor section into the corner assembly using a corner injection unit that includes powered rollers that lift the pallets off the roller chains an onto a set of ball transfers that support the pallets as they glide through the corner assembly. Side guides are used to direct the pallets around the turn and onto the downstream conveyor section. A pickup unit having powered rollers draws the pallets off the ball transfers and onto the roller chains of the downstream conveyor section. The rollers of the corner injection unit and pickup unit can be powered by the same motor used to drive the chains of the respective conveyor sections.