Conveyor Belt Diverting Rollers for Maintaining Article Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyors struggle to maintain the leading edge of conveyed articles when changing direction, especially when the angle of diversion is large, such as from a first direction to a transverse second direction, typically requiring exit conveyors to branch off at angles of less than 30° to prevent the leading edge from becoming a side edge.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with two belts, where the first belt advances in a first direction and the second belt in a perpendicular direction, both with rollers that rotate on oblique axes, using bearing surfaces to activate these rollers and push articles from one belt to the other, ensuring the leading edge remains intact during direction change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyance direction changes by a large angle (e.g., 90°), then the direction change capability is improved, but the leading edge orientation is lost (side edge becomes leading edge)
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system uses dynamically adjustable roller assemblies that can rotate on oblique axes. The rollers are mounted on pivoting mechanisms that allow them to change their rotation axis orientation dynamically, enabling the system to adapt to different diversion angles while maintaining leading edge orientation through controlled roller rotation during the transfer process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an additional rotational dimension by allowing rollers to rotate on axes that are oblique to the belt travel direction. This extra degree of freedom enables the rollers to simultaneously advance articles along the belt direction and rotate them to maintain leading edge orientation during transverse diversion, effectively adding a rotational dimension to the conventional linear conveyor system
2Manufacturing precision
If the conveyance direction changes by a small angle (≤30°), then the leading edge orientation is maintained, but the direction change capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assemblies incorporate dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the rotation axis orientation to be changed during operation. For small angle diversions, the rollers can be positioned at optimal oblique angles to maintain leading edge orientation, while the same mechanism allows increasing the diversion angle when larger direction changes are required, providing adaptability across different operational requirements
3Manufacturing precision
If rollers are arranged on axes oblique to the belt travel direction, then the leading edge can be maintained during transverse diversion, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into multiple sections, each equipped with independent roller assemblies. Each roller assembly is a self-contained module with its own oblique axis rotation mechanism, allowing the complex function to be distributed across multiple simple, identical units. This modular segmentation makes the complex function manageable and maintainable
Solution Approach 2:
The roller assemblies are designed as universal components that perform multiple functions: they advance articles along the belt direction, rotate articles to maintain leading edge orientation, and accommodate different diversion angles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby managing complexity while achieving the desired precision
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 system effectively maintains the leading edge of conveyed articles as they transition from one conveyor to another, allowing for larger angle changes without altering the article's orientation, enhancing versatility in applications like automatic baggage inspection.
Implementation Method 1
Both the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt have rollers that protrude past the tops and bottoms. The rollers are retained in the first conveyor belt free to rotate on axes oblique to the first direction; the rollers are retained in the second conveyor belt free to rotate on axes oblique to the second direction.
Implementation Method 2
As the first conveyor belt advances, the rollers roll along the first bearing surface and push articles conveyed atop the rollers toward the second side of the first conveyor belt.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Apparatus and methods using conveyor belts (12, 14) with activated diverting rollers (28, 28' ) to maintain the leading edge of a conveyed article (10) while changing the conveyance direction. A first conveyor belt (12) advancing in a first direction (22) abuts a second conveyor belt (14) advancing in a second transverse direction (23). Both belts (12, 14) have diverting rollers (28, 28' ) that rotate on axes oblique (30, 30' ) to the conveyance direction. The diverting rollers (28, 28' ) are activated by rolling on underlying bearing surfaces in the vicinity of the junction of the two belts. The diverting rollers (28) in the first belt (12) direct the article (10) toward the second belt (14). The rollers (28) in the second belt (14) direct the article toward a side of the second belt (14). An article lying on both belts simultaneously rotates by the action of the two sets of diverting rollers acting on opposite ends of the article. The orientation of the rollers and their rotation maintain the leading edge of the article.