Conveyor Path Forming Apparatus With Retractable Movable Side
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems face challenges in allowing workers and vehicles to pass through due to fixed conveyor paths, requiring additional space and power for flip-up mechanisms, and existing extendable conveyor technologies lack a driving source for article transfer without manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A path forming device with a fixed side conveyor and a movable side conveyor that combines lifting, lowering, and linear movement functions, allowing the movable conveyor to protrude and retract seamlessly, maintaining a constant conveying surface height and enabling passage for workers and vehicles without additional space or power requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed conveyor device is used to maintain constant height position, then conveying surface stability is improved, but the ability to form passages for workers and vehicles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic one with lifting and lowering functions. The movable side conveyor device can change its vertical position to either align with the fixed side conveyor device for article conveying or lower to form passages, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor device is divided into a fixed side conveyor device and a movable side conveyor device. The movable side can be lifted and lowered independently to create passages while the fixed side maintains constant height, allowing the system to simultaneously maintain stability in one segment while providing adaptability in another
2Adaptability or versatility
If a flip-up conveyor device is used to enable passage, then passage formation capability is improved, but space requirements and power consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the conveyor device vertically in a flip-up manner that requires space above, the movable side conveyor device moves horizontally along the linear movement function to form passages. This dimensional change eliminates the need for vertical clearance space while maintaining passage formation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor device uses a dynamic linear movement mechanism instead of a static flip-up structure. The movable side conveyor device can extend and retract along the linear movement function, enabling passage formation without requiring fixed space above the conveyor device
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flip-up conveyor device is used to enable passage, then passage formation capability is improved, but power requirements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device uses dynamic lifting and lowering functions with smaller power requirements compared to flip-up mechanisms. The movable side conveyor device is lifted and lowered only when needed for passage formation, rather than requiring continuous power to maintain a flip-up position, thus reducing overall power consumption
4Adaptability or versatility
If an extendable conveyor device is used to form passages, then passage formation capability is improved, but article transfer capability without manual intervention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device maintains automation by using dynamic lifting and lowering functions that can automatically adjust the movable side conveyor device to the correct height for article transfer. The system can automatically extend and retract the movable side conveyor device along the linear movement function, enabling both passage formation and automated article transfer without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor device performs self-adjustment through its lifting and lowering functions, automatically positioning the movable side conveyor device for either article conveying or passage formation based on operational needs, eliminating the need for manual intervention in the article transfer process
Data Source
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AI summary
A path forming device for forming a part of a series of article conveying passage and opening a path for passing through when a worker crosses the article conveying passage, the path forming device including: a fixed side conveyor device located at a constant height position; a movable side conveyor device; a lifting and lowering function that lifts and lowers the movable side conveyor device; and a linear movement function that linearly moves the movable side conveyor device, wherein the movable side conveyor device is capable of taking: an article conveying posture in which the movable side conveyor device protrudes from the fixed side conveyor device in a cantilever state, and is linearly aligned with the fixed side conveyor at substantially the same height as the fixed side conveyor; and a path opening posture in which a height of the movable side conveyor device is lowered by the lifting and lowering function, the movable side conveyor device is made to move to the fixed side conveyor device by the linear movement function, the movable side conveyor device is located under the fixed side conveyor device, and a part of or all of the movable side conveyor device overlaps with the fixed side conveyor device on the same plane.