Conveyor Lifting Arm Parallelogram Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor lifting systems fail to uniformly control the angular position and product flow into transportable containers due to horizontal movement at the exit end, leading to non-uniform discharge and potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
A lifting system comprising a hinging portion and a lifting portion that secures the conveyor to a structure, allowing vertical movement at a lifting point while maintaining horizontal position, and a hinged arm that pivots to control movement along an arced path, ensuring the exit end remains over the container for uniform product distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the conveyor is allowed to rotate freely about the pivot to move the exit end vertically, then the vertical position of the conveyor can be adjusted, but horizontal movement occurs at the exit end causing non-uniform discharge and product breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a static pivot connection to a dynamic parallelogram linkage system. The linkage includes movable connections at both the top and bottom of the conveyor, allowing the system to adapt its configuration during vertical movement. This dynamic structure maintains parallelism between the conveyor and its support, ensuring the exit end moves purely vertically without horizontal deviation, thus resolving the position control issue while preserving ease of adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the conveyor angular position is varied to control product flow into the container, then discharge uniformity improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The parallelogram linkage system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the conveyor's vertical movement, maintains the conveyor's angular position relative to the container, and prevents horizontal displacement at the exit end. By integrating these functions into a single mechanical structure rather than separate control mechanisms, the system achieves precise discharge control without proportionally increasing complexity, thus applying the multi-functionality principle effectively.
3Ease of operation
If the exit end of the conveyor moves horizontally during lifting, then the conveyor can be positioned vertically, but product breakage occurs due to non-uniform discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The parallelogram linkage structure provides preemptive protection by mechanically constraining the conveyor's movement path before any horizontal displacement can occur. The linkage geometry inherently prevents the exit end from moving horizontally during lifting, ensuring uniform product discharge from the outset. This preventive mechanical constraint eliminates the risk of product breakage before it can happen, rather than attempting to correct or cushion the effect after horizontal movement occurs.
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
This solution minimizes horizontal movement and maintains the exit end's position over the container, resulting in a more uniform discharge and reduced product breakage by varying the conveyor's angular position as it lifts vertically, ensuring efficient filling of transportable containers.
Implementation Method 1
A hinging portion having at least one hinged arm pivotally engages the conveyor at a conveyor pivot. The at least one hinged arm extends from the conveyor pivot to pivotally engage the base support. The hinging portion pivotally engages both the conveyor pivot and the base support to allow for movement of the conveyor along an arced path at the conveyor pivot.
Data Source
AI summary
The lifting system includes a lifting portion and a hinging portion for lifting a conveyor The lifting portion is fixed to a structure and extends from the structure to mate with the conveyor at a lifting point. The lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically upward and downward at the lifting point with no horizontal movement at the lifting point. The hinging portion is pivotally connected to the conveyor at a conveyor pivot and extends from the conveyor to engage the structure. The hinging portion is further pivotally connected to the structure to allow for controlled movement in an arced path at the conveyor pivot of the conveyor. The controlled movement of the conveyor along the arced path at the conveyor pivot varies the angular position of the conveyor and maintains the position of the conveyor over the transportable container as the lifting portion moves the conveyor vertically at the lifting point.