Conveyor Roll-on Module with Inclined Belt Ramps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor devices for loading or unloading singularized piece goods, such as parcels and luggage, face challenges in automation due to the need for human intervention, limited throughput, and difficulty in handling items of different sizes and shapes in disordered storage areas.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor device equipped with a mobile or stationary holder, a roll-up module with inclined belt ramps for easy pickup, and a curve module for adjustable direction change, allowing flexible adaptation to various spatial conditions and item orientations, enabling continuous transport without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If telescoping arms with a robot are used to pick up piece goods individually, then automation is achieved, but conveying speed decreases and the bridge structure severely restricts space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of piece goods transferVSAvoidconveying speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical robot arm system with a belt ramp system that uses friction and gravity to automatically pick up and convey piece goods. The inclined belt ramp allows items to be pulled onto the conveyor belt through friction without requiring complex robotic manipulation, thereby maintaining automation while significantly improving conveying speed and eliminating space-restricting bridge structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If human workers manually transfer piece goods between conveyor belt and transport means, then flexibility in handling different sizes and weights is achieved, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling of different sizes and weightsVSAvoidtransport quantity per unit time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The belt ramp system is designed to automatically adapt to different piece goods without human intervention. The friction-based pickup mechanism and inclined plane design allow the system to self-adjust and handle various sizes, weights, and shapes of items autonomously, eliminating manual labor while maintaining versatility and significantly increasing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle carrying the conveyor is repositioned to receive differently arranged piece goods, then adaptability to disordered storage is achieved, but time is lost and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception of disordered piece goodsVSAvoidrepositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a curve module with variable directional adjustment capability that allows the conveyor system to dynamically adapt its receiving direction without repositioning the entire vehicle. The curve module can be adjusted in real-time to match the orientation of disordered piece goods in the storage area, enabling the system to maintain both adaptability and operational efficiency by eliminating time-consuming repositioning operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

The solution significantly increases the number of items that can be handled per unit time, simplifies the handling of diverse piece goods, and allows for automatic pickup and deposition, reducing labor intensity and error rates while accommodating unordered and differently positioned items.

Implementation Method 1

The rolling-on module or receiving module is arranged at a front free end of the conveyor device and has at least one belt ramp that is preferably inclined relative to the horizontal plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2961674B1Conveyor device for loading or unloading piece goods which can be singulated
Publication Date: 2017.08.16 J SCHMALZ GMBH
  • EP2961674B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2961674B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2961674B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A conveyor device (10) for loading piece goods, which can be singulated, into a storage region or unloading same from a storage region, with at least one conveyor belt device (1) which is mounted on a mobile or stationary support (2), and with a roll-on module (3) which is adapted for receiving and depositing piece goods, wherein the roll-on module (3) is arranged at a front free end of the conveyor device (10), wherein the roll-on module (3) is formed with two belt ramps (31) inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and a curved module (4) formed from rollers is provided between the roll-on module (3) and the conveyor belt device (1).