Conveyor Stopper Cam Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loads tend to fall off conveyors and trolleys when transitioning between conveyor tracks, leading to potential accidents and inefficiencies in transportation systems.
Innovation Solution
A stopper mechanism is introduced, featuring a stop element that locks when a push rod is in the lock position, preventing loads from falling off by using a biasing member, pin, lock lever, and cam system to ensure secure engagement and disengagement based on the push rod's position, allowing for safe conveyance and flexible movement between conveyor tracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper mechanism is introduced to prevent loads from falling off, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop element is integrated within the conveyor structure, with the pin moving along a slit that is part of the stop element itself. The lock lever and cam mechanism are nested within the same assembly, creating a compact integrated unit that prevents loads from falling off without adding excessive external complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member automatically returns the pin to the locked position after the trolley passes, and the cam mechanism automatically disengages the pin from the lock lever when the trolley is present. The system serves itself by using the trolley's presence to trigger the unlocking and locking sequences without external control
2Reliability
If the stop element is locked to prevent loads from falling, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper mechanism automatically locks and unlocks based on the trolley's position. When the trolley approaches, the push rod moves the cam to disengage the pin from the lock lever (unlocking). When the trolley passes, the biasing member returns the pin to engage with the lock lever (locking). This self-service operation maintains safety without requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The stop element transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic state where the pin can move along the slit and disengage from the lock lever. This dynamic behavior allows the system to automatically adapt between locked and unlocked states based on operational conditions, maintaining both safety and ease of operation
3Reliability
If the push rod is positioned to lock the stop element, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to restricted movement
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed to move along a slit in the stop element, allowing it to transition between locked and unlocked positions. The cam mechanism dynamically adjusts the pin's position based on the trolley's presence, enabling automatic locking during conveyance and automatic unlocking during trolley passage, thus maintaining both safety and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member pre-positions the pin in the locked state before the trolley arrives. The cam mechanism is pre-configured with an unlock portion that will automatically disengage the pin when the trolley's push rod activates it. This preliminary preparation ensures immediate locking for safety while allowing rapid unlocking for productivity
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 stopper effectively prevents loads from falling off during transitions between conveyor tracks, ensuring safe and efficient transportation by locking the load in place when necessary and allowing unhindered movement when not, thus enhancing the reliability and safety of the transportation system.
Implementation Method 1
the stopper further includes a biasing member configured to bias the push rod to be at the lock position
Data Source
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AI summary
A stopper (100) for a transportation system configured to convey a load (3), including a stop element (110) configured to contact with the load (3), a pin (120) movably supported by the stop element (110), a lock lever (130) having a seat (132) configured to engage with the pin (120), a cam (140) configured to move the pin (120), and a push rod (150, 152) connected to the cam (140). The stop element (110) is supported to be capable of pivoting around an axis (112). The cam (140) is configured to disengage the pin (120) from the seat (132) when the push rod (150, 152) is at an unlock position. The cam (140) is further configured to engage the pin (120) with the seat (132) when the push rod (150, 152) is at a lock position.