Conveyor System With Shared Frame Sidewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems in poultry processing are inefficient, difficult to clean, and ergonomically challenging due to large gaps between conveyors, leading to contamination, worker fatigue, and increased food waste.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a single frame supporting multiple conveyor lines that share a common sidewall, eliminating gaps and allowing for modular construction, with one conveyor line passing underneath another, and adjustable standing platforms for improved ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conveyors are spaced 3.5 inches apart to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, then ease of manufacture is improved, but food safety deteriorates due to contamination risks and food waste increases when items fall through gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple conveyor lines onto a single shared frame structure, where conveyors are positioned adjacently with minimal spacing. This eliminates the need for large 3.5-inch gaps between conveyors while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular frame sections that can be assembled with standard tolerances.
2Ease of manufacture
If conveyors are spaced 3.5 inches apart to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cleaning efficiency deteriorates due to difficulty accessing gaps
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning conveyors adjacently on a shared frame with minimal spacing, the patent eliminates large gaps that are difficult to clean. The reduced spacing allows cleaning tools to access all surfaces effectively while the modular frame design maintains ease of assembly and disassembly for regular cleaning cycles.
3Productivity
If multiple conveyors are added to increase productivity, then productivity is improved, but worker ergonomics deteriorate due to increased reaching distance across gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple conveyor lines into a compact arrangement on a single frame, reducing the horizontal distance workers must reach to transfer items between conveyors. This adjacent positioning maintains high productivity through multiple conveyor lines while minimizing worker fatigue from excessive reaching motions.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If conveyors are positioned adjacently to eliminate gaps, then food safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame into modular sections that can be independently assembled and adjusted. This modular design allows for precise positioning of adjacent conveyors while maintaining ease of assembly, as each module can be manufactured and positioned separately then connected to form the complete conveyor system.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor system is disclosed wherein the conveyor line includes two or more conveyor lines wherein all of the conveyor lines are built on a common frame. By building the conveyor lines on a common frame, the conveyor lines can be built adjacent to one another and share common sidewalls, eliminating gaps of traditional conveyor systems. Adjustable standing platforms can also be added to assist workers in reaching the conveyor lines. The result is a more modular, easier to clean, ergonomically beneficial conveyor system.