Conveyor System for Protruding Structural Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems face challenges in transporting objects with protrusions, such as structural members with affixed connector plates, as these protrusions can interfere with the conveyor mechanisms, leading to inefficiencies and interruptions in assembly line processes.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system featuring a narrow elongate slide and engagement tool designed to accommodate objects with protrusions, where the slide is wider than the object and the tool is taller than the protrusions, allowing for smooth translation without interference, and multiple engagement tools enable simultaneous object handling and efficient throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional conveyor systems are used to transport objects with protrusions, then the conveyor can handle standard objects efficiently, but the protrusions interfere with the conveyor mechanisms causing interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system transitions from a horizontal support approach to a vertical engagement approach. The engagement tool extends vertically above the conveyance support to clear protrusions, changing the dimensional relationship between the conveyor components and the object being transported. This allows the system to handle objects with downward protrusions without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
An engagement tool is introduced as an intermediary component between the conveyance support and the object. This engagement tool with its extended height acts as a mediator that can reach above protrusions to securely engage and transport objects without the protrusions interfering with the conveyance mechanism.
2Productivity
If the conveyance support is made wider to accommodate objects with protrusions, then protrusions can clear the support, but the conveyor system occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the horizontal width of the conveyance support, the system increases the vertical height of the engagement tool. This dimensional shift allows the conveyor to accommodate protrusions by clearing them vertically rather than requiring additional horizontal space, maintaining a compact footprint while expanding transport capability.
3Ease of operation
If manual reorientation of objects is required during conveyance, then objects can be properly positioned, but assembly line efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed to automatically handle object positioning through the engagement tool's configuration. The engagement tool engages objects in a way that maintains proper orientation during transport without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in terms of positioning while maintaining high throughput.
4Adaptability or versatility
If engagement tools are designed to reach above protrusions, then objects with affixed plates can be transported, but the engagement tool height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement tool is designed with adjustable or movable components that can adapt to different object heights and protrusion configurations. This dynamic design allows the tool to reach above protrusions when necessary while potentially reducing its effective height when dealing with smaller objects, optimizing the balance between versatility and dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor system for translating objects is disclosed, each object with vertical protrusions extending upward and/or downward from one or more sides of the object. The conveyor system can accommodate structural members such as roof truss members, on which connector plates are affixed and from which the connector plates protrude vertically up, down, or both. The conveyor system may have a slide or some other support for the objects. The slide or other support may be narrow. The slide or other support can be tall, relative to an object. The conveyor system may have an engagement tool driven by an overhead carriage to translate the objects along the slide or other support. The engagement tool may be narrow. The engagement tool can be tall, relative to an object.