Conveyor Engaging Elements Pivot for Quiet Carriage Passing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems for transporting objects like clothes on hangers suffer from limited flexibility and generate noise due to their monostable operation, where carriages automatically disengage when encountering obstacles and then fall back, causing rattling sounds as subsequent carriers pass by.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with movable engaging elements that can pivot between two stable positions, allowing them to engage or disengage with carriages based on movement direction, enabling flexible operation and reducing noise by allowing carriages to pass quickly when moving faster than the engaging elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If carriers automatically disengage when an obstacle occurs and fall back to original position, then the system can handle obstacles, but noise is generated due to rattling when stopped carriages are run over by successive carriers
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement element is designed to be dynamically changeable between two stable positions (engaged and disengaged) based on operational requirements. This allows the system to adapt its engagement state rather than being fixed in one position, enabling noiseless operation when carriages pass each other while maintaining engagement capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engagement parameter of the carrying device by transitioning between two stable positions. The engagement element can be switched from an engaged state (for normal operation) to a disengaged state (for noiseless passing), allowing the system to optimize its behavior based on the operational context without generating rattling noise.
2Device complexity
If engaging elements are fixed in one position, then the structure is simple, but the system lacks flexibility in operation
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement element incorporates a pivotable connection that allows it to change its engagement state dynamically. This dynamic design provides operational flexibility while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of a single pivot connection per engagement element.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrying device is divided into multiple independent engagement elements, each capable of independent positioning. This segmentation allows individual elements to be engaged or disengaged as needed, providing operational flexibility without requiring complex coordinated mechanisms across the entire device.
3Reliability
If carriages must match the speed of engaging elements, then engagement is maintained, but the system loses speed variability and efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement element's ability to pivot between stable positions allows it to dynamically adapt to speed variations. When carriages move at different speeds, the engagement element can transition between engaged and disengaged states appropriately, maintaining reliable engagement when speeds match while allowing speed variability when carriages pass each other.
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveying system (10) for transporting articles, in particular goods, along a predetermined path, comprises a running rail (11) and at least one carriage (12), which runs on this running rail (11) and is freely movable along the running rail (11), and also a driven engaging device (13), which extends at least over a portion of the running rail (11) comprises a plurality of engaging elements (23), which are movable along the running rail (11) and, to control the movement of the at least one carriage (12), can be brought into engagement with the carriage (12). Reliable, quiet operation is achieved by the engaging elements (23) being movable back and forth between two stable positions, wherein, in the first stable position, the engaging elements (23) can be moved in relation to the at least one carriage (12) past the carriage (12) without coming into engagement with the carriage (12) (non-engaging position), and wherein, in the second stable position, the engaging elements (23) inevitably come into engagement with the at least one carriage (12) during a movement in relation to the at least one carriage (12) past the carriage (12) (engaging position).