Conveyor Sorting with Inclined Strip Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices for piece goods are complex, prone to faults, and costly, making them inefficient and unreliable for conveying and sorting tasks.
Innovation Solution
A device with a conveyor track system featuring push shoes and diverting guidance inclined bodies that can be raised and lowered to divert piece goods laterally, using actuators to move guide rollers along inclined surfaces for efficient sorting and ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing sorting devices with constrained displacement shoes and diverting rails are used, then piece goods can be sorted laterally, but the device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex transmission subassembly and deflecting subassembly from the sorting mechanism, replacing them with a simplified inclined strip that directly performs the diverting function. The inclined strip is raised or lowered to engage or disengage from guide rollers, eliminating the need for complicated mechanical transmissions while maintaining sorting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a stationary diverting rail that requires complex transmission mechanisms to engage, the patent inverts the approach by using a movable inclined strip that actively engages with stationary guide rollers. This reversal simplifies the mechanism by making the diverting element movable rather than requiring the guide element to be complex and stationary.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing sorting devices with transmission subassemblies and deflecting subassemblies are used, then piece goods can be diverted, but the reliability decreases due to more moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the transmission subassembly and deflecting subassembly from the system, replacing them with a single inclined strip that performs the diverting function directly. This extraction of complex intermediate mechanisms reduces the number of moving parts and potential failure points, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the diverting function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex diverting arrangements with multiple subassemblies are used, then sorting can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates multiple complex subassemblies (transmission subassembly, deflecting subassembly) from the sorting device, replacing them with a simple inclined strip mechanism. This drastic simplification reduces manufacturing complexity and material requirements, leading to lower production costs while maintaining full sorting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs simple, easily manufactured components such as the inclined strip made from profiled bar or channel, which can be produced cost-effectively. The design favors simple, replaceable components over expensive, complex assemblies, making the overall device more economical to manufacture and maintain.
4Productivity
If existing sorting devices are used, then piece goods can be sorted, but noise and wear increase due to complex mechanical interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex mechanical interactions between transmission subassemblies and deflecting subassemblies, replacing them with a direct engagement between the inclined strip and guide rollers. This simplification reduces friction, impact, and mechanical stress, thereby minimizing noise generation and wear on components while maintaining sorting efficiency.
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 provides a simple, robust, and cost-effective method for reliable sorting and ejection of piece goods, minimizing noise and wear, and enabling efficient diversion or ejection on one or both sides of the conveyor track.
Implementation Method 1
arranged below the upper run is at least one inclined strip (9), which is mounted preferably at one end to be raisable and lowerable... and which extends at an inclination to the track conveying direction (24)
Data Source
AI summary
Device for conveying piece goods along a conveying path includes a sorting device for sorting piece goods, track profile members extending transversely to a track conveying direction and connected together to form an endless conveyor track with an upper and a lower run. The upper run has a conveyor surface for conveying the piece goods in the track conveying direction. Push shoes are successive along the conveying path and each is displaceable along at least one track profile member of the track profile members so as to constrainedly displace the piece goods laterally on the conveyor surface transversely to the track conveying direction of the endless conveyor track. A drive drives the endless conveyor track in the track conveying direction. Each push shoe includes a guide roller, which is arranged below the upper run and mounted to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending transversely to the conveyor surface.