Conveyor Apparatus with Movable Guide Track for Variable Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems for rod-like articles face challenges in achieving variable capacity while minimizing overall surface dimensions and floor area, particularly in low-capacity applications with short production line downtimes.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor apparatus with a movable guide track and sliding elements allows the endless conveying element to adjust its path, enabling continuous variation in capacity by altering the overlapping lengths between conveyors, utilizing a chain or belt with sliding elements and guided by a serial configuration of guide members connected by joints, with end rollers driven by motors for linear and rotary motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conveyors are made movable to achieve variable capacity, then adaptability to different production rates is improved, but overall surface dimensions and floor area increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are arranged in a serial configuration along a guide track that extends in a direction transverse to the mass flow conveying direction, utilizing the transverse dimension to achieve capacity variation without increasing the longitudinal footprint. The guide track allows the conveying element to be positioned at different transverse locations, creating variable capacity buffers while maintaining compact floor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide members are made movable along the guide track, allowing the conveying element to dynamically adjust its position and the buffer capacity to vary continuously. This dynamic arrangement enables the system to adapt to different production rates by moving the guide members to appropriate positions, achieving variable capacity without permanent structural changes.
2Area of stationary object
If the guide members are arranged inside the looped path area, then floor area is reduced, but the sliding elements may interfere with the conveying surface
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are segmented into multiple discrete units arranged in a serial configuration along the guide track. Each guide member can be independently positioned and contains its own sliding element, allowing precise control of the conveying element's position without interference with the conveying surface. This segmentation enables compact arrangement while maintaining operational clearance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conveying element is made adjustable to vary capacity, then adaptability to production line downtime is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide members are equipped with sliding elements that automatically engage with the conveying element as it moves along the looped path. The conveying element itself serves to drive and position the guide members through its motion, eliminating the need for separate actuation mechanisms. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining capacity adjustment capability.
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 configuration allows for a variable capacity buffer with minimal dimensions and floor area, efficiently adapting to changing production rates by adjusting the conveying lengths based on inflow and outflow rates, optimizing space usage and operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the conveying element is provided with one or more sliding elements adapted to make a sliding contact with the guide members of the guide when the conveying element moves along the looped path
Data Source
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AI summary
A conveyor apparatus for conveying a mass flow of rod-like articles arranged transversely to the mass flow conveying direction, comprising: an endless conveying element (7, 7') having a conveying surface for supporting the mass flow of the rod-like articles (R) and driven to move along a looped path; a guide (8, 8', 8") for guiding the conveying element (7, 7') along the said looped path, characterised in that the guide (8, 8', 8") comprises a plurality of guide members (9) arranged so that they are movable together in a serial configuration along a guide track (10, 10').