Conveyor Guide Assembly Resisting Bending via Clamped Support Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor guides, particularly central guides, suffer from twisting and side bending due to lateral forces, leading to irregular operation and potential bridging of the flow of transported articles, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A guide comprising longitudinally extended support elements with idle rollers and plate-like elements that clamp a support bar to the conveyor frame, providing enhanced rigidity through a system of slanted planes and screws to resist twisting and side bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guides are mounted in overhanging way by means of clamps to support bars, then installation is simplified, but resistance to bending and twisting is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp incorporates slanted planes that engage with corresponding slanted surfaces on the support bar, creating a multi-dimensional mechanical interlock. This geometric engagement in multiple dimensions provides resistance to bending forces while maintaining the overhanging mounting configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly functions as a composite structure combining the clamp body, slanted planes, and support bar into an integrated load-bearing system. This composite arrangement distributes stresses across multiple components, enhancing overall bending resistance without complicating installation.
2Strength
If guides are made more rigid to withstand transversal stresses, then resistance to bending improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide structure is segmented into modular components: the guide body, the clamp assembly with slanted planes, and the support bar. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while collectively providing enhanced twisting resistance without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The slanted planes create a mechanical interlock that resists twisting forces through geometric constraint in multiple dimensions. This dimensional approach provides structural reinforcement without requiring additional complex components or mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If central guides are provided to divide flows, then article routing is improved, but susceptibility to side bending increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slanted planes engage with the support bar to create a mechanically interlocked configuration that resists side bending forces. This multi-dimensional geometric engagement stabilizes the central guide while it performs its flow-dividing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp assembly forms a composite structure with the support bar, distributing lateral loads across the integrated assembly. This composite arrangement enhances the central guide's stability against side bending while maintaining its routing functionality.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Guide for conveying articles, comprising a first and a second element (105a,105b) for guiding and/or routing the articles along a transport path, the elements both comprising substantially planar portions (140a, 140b), a mounting assembly(155a,155b,175,180) for mounting the first and the second elements (105a, 105b) to a support bar (150), the support bar (150) being connected to a frame (925) of a conveyor, wherein the mounting assembly (155a,155b,175,180) is adapted to force the first and the second elements (105a, 105b) together, wherein the planar portions (140a, 140b) of the first and the second elements (105a, 105b) are adapted to clamp the support bar (150) there between.