Conveyor Product Orientation Using Independent Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for orienting small bottles with flattened sides on conveyor belts are inefficient due to the need for multiple lead screws, which are bulky, costly, and can cause scratches and instability, limiting throughput and requiring frequent adjustments for different product shapes.
Innovation Solution
A device with actuators mounted on a guide forming a circulation loop that pivots products about a perpendicular axis as they move along the conveyor, allowing continuous operation and independent movement of actuators to orient products without the need for multiple screws, reducing bulk and cost while minimizing product contact and instability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple lead screws are used to orient different product shapes, then product orientation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single lead screw is designed to handle multiple product shapes and orientations through programmable control. The screw can be repositioned and reconfigured via computer control to accommodate different bottle shapes, sizes, and orientation requirements, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated screws for different product types.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead screw system incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities where the screw can be moved to different locations and adjusted to different orientations during operation. This dynamic adaptability allows one screw to perform the functions previously requiring multiple fixed screws, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lead screws are used for product orientation, then orientation function is achieved, but installation bulk increases due to storage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a single universal lead screw that can be reconfigured for different orientation tasks, eliminating the need for a storage zone containing multiple specialized screws. The programmable control system allows the same physical component to serve multiple orientation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining multiple screws in storage, the system recovers space by using one screw that is dynamically repositioned and reconfigured for different tasks. The screw is effectively 'recovered' and reused for different product types rather than being discarded or stored after use for a particular product shape.
3Manufacturing precision
If lead screws are used for product spacing and orientation, then positioning is achieved, but product damage risk increases due to rubbing and scratching
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces direct mechanical contact orientation with a combination of controlled mechanical positioning and computational control. The lead screw positions products with precision, but the orientation is achieved through controlled pivoting motions that minimize rubbing and scratching, rather than through continuous mechanical friction.
4Manufacturing precision
If static orientation downstream of screw is used, then product orientation is achieved, but throughput is limited due to instability and marking
Solution Approach 1:
The lead screw performs orientation continuously as products move through the system, rather than stopping for static orientation. The screw maintains contact and control throughout the orientation process, allowing products to be oriented and immediately conveyed forward without interruption, thereby maintaining high throughput while ensuring precise orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary positioning and orientation adjustments while products are still moving through the lead screw, before they reach the discharge point. This preliminary action ensures products are properly oriented during conveyance, eliminating the need for subsequent static orientation operations that would interrupt throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a positioning device for positioning products while at the same time conveying products one after another on a conveyor in a conveying plane and along a conveying direction. This device comprising a plurality of orientation devices each comprising at least one pusher mounted with the ability to move on a guide, said guide being situated on the side of the conveyor and defining a closed circulation loop at least a portion of which lies along the conveying direction, the at least one pusher being able to act on a product by pushing it in order to cause it to pivot through a predetermined angle about an axis perpendicular to the conveying plane, said orientation devices being capable of moving independently of one another on said guide. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.