Conveyor Flow Tapering with Height Offset to Prevent Jamming

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conveyor systems face congestion and jamming issues when reducing conveyor belt width at high transmission current densities, and they often fail to generate sufficient height for stacking piece goods effectively.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor section arrangement that divides the conveyor flow into two partial flows, generating a height difference between them, allowing separate functions for height generation and tapering, using passive and active conveyor sections to transfer goods without requiring additional drives, and employing angled conveyor surfaces to facilitate stacking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the conveyor belt width is reduced at high transmission current densities, then the conveyor flow is tapered, but congestion or jamming occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor flow taperingVSAvoidcongestion and jamming

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system is divided into multiple sections: a first conveyor section for height generation and a second conveyor section for tapering. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, preventing congestion and jamming that would occur if both functions were combined in a single section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first conveyor section performs preliminary height generation before the actual tapering operation in the second section. By generating the height difference in advance, the system ensures that piece goods are properly stacked before the bandwidth reduction, preventing congestion during the tapering process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If a snowplow device is used for tapering, then the conveyor flow width is reduced, but sufficient height is not generated before width reduction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor flow taperingVSAvoidheight generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system is divided into multiple sections: a first conveyor section for height generation and a second conveyor section for tapering. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, preventing congestion and jamming that would occur if both functions were combined in a single section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first conveyor section performs preliminary height generation before the actual tapering operation in the second section. By generating the height difference in advance, the system ensures that piece goods are properly stacked before the bandwidth reduction, preventing congestion during the tapering process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If height generation and tapering are performed at the same location, then device complexity is reduced, but congestion occurs during tapering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconveyor section arrangementVSAvoidcongestion during tapering

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor system is divided into multiple sections: a first conveyor section for height generation and a second conveyor section for tapering. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, preventing congestion and jamming that would occur if both functions were combined in a single section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Reduces the risk of congestion and efficiently stacks piece goods by separating height generation from tapering functions, ensuring smooth operation even at high densities without additional energy expenditure.

Implementation Method 1

generate a height difference between the first and the second partial conveyor flow, so that at the end of the first section the first partial conveyor flow is arranged higher than the second partial conveyor flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitational potential energy difference: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

convey piece goods of the first partial conveyor flow, i.e. piece goods on the passive partial conveyor section, by means of positive and/or frictional locking with conveyed piece goods of the second partial conveyor flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS12509309B2Tapering of a conveyor flow of piece goods

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 KERBER SUPPLY CHAIN LOGISTICS GESELLSCHAFT MITT BESCHLENKTEL HAFZUNG

AI summary

A conveyor line arrangement for tapering a conveyor flow of piece goods includes a first section divided into at least a first partial conveyor flow and a second partial conveyor flow and to generate a height difference between the first partial conveyor flow and the second partial conveyor flow such that the first partial conveyor flow is arranged higher than the second partial conveyor flow at the end of the first section, and a second section is configured to take over piece goods from the first partial conveyor flow and the second partial conveyor flow of the first section, and wherein the conveyor line arrangement is configured to feed the first partial conveyor flow to the second partial conveyor flow by transferring piece goods from the first partial conveyor flow to piece goods of the second partial conveyor flow on the second section.