Conveyor Transfer Section Rotating Workpieces Direction Change

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conveyor systems in industrial production plants face challenges in efficiently transporting workpieces through systems in a small space with high throughput, particularly in changing directions within hot or aggressive environments without introducing dirt or condensate.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor device with a transfer section that rotates workpieces about a stationary axis, featuring acceleration and deceleration sections, and linear movement devices with independent control, allowing for directional change without chain hoists and minimizing exposure to hot or aggressive atmospheres.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If workpieces are transported through a system in a confined space with direction changes, then space utilization is improved, but the complexity of the conveying device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem spaceVSAvoidconveying device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying device is divided into distinct functional sections: acceleration sections with driven rollers, transfer sections with un驱动的 rollers for direction change, and deceleration sections. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function independently, enabling direction changes in confined spaces while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes three-dimensional space by implementing vertical stacking of conveying sections and using transfer sections that change the direction of movement in vertical or diagonal orientations. This allows the workpieces to be transported through a compact footprint by exploiting the third dimension rather than requiring extensive horizontal space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If workpieces are accelerated and decelerated in separate sections, then throughput is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidconveying device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveying device implements dynamic speed control by varying the rotational speed of driven rollers in acceleration and deceleration sections. The rollers can be independently controlled to provide the required acceleration and deceleration profiles, allowing high throughput while maintaining simple mechanical structures without complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces traditional mechanical acceleration and deceleration mechanisms (such as chain hoists or complex gear systems) with a simpler driven roller system that uses friction-based propulsion. The workpieces are accelerated and decelerated by the friction force between the driven rollers and the workpiece surfaces, eliminating the need for complex mechanical transmission systems

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

3Adaptability or versatility

If workpieces are rotated about a fixed axis in a transfer section, then directional change capability is improved, but the time required for repositioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirectional change capabilityVSAvoidrepositioning time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The acceleration section is positioned immediately before the transfer section and is used to pre-accelerate workpieces to optimal speeds before they enter the rotation zone. This preliminary acceleration ensures that workpieces have sufficient momentum to be quickly redirected in the transfer section, minimizing the time required for repositioning while maintaining versatile directional change capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2729393B2System for treating workpieces
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 DUERR SYST AG
  • EP2729393B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2729393B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2729393B2 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a conveyor device (2) for transporting objects, such as goods or workpieces, in particular motor vehicle bodies (12). The conveyor device (2) has a conveyor segment (16) on which the objects (12) can be displaced by means of a fixedly arranged drive system (40, 42), changing the direction of movement (46, 50, 54, 8). According to the invention, the conveyor segment (16) comprises at least one transfer section (24, 30, 36), to which the objects (12) are supplied with a first direction of movement (48, 52, 56), in which the objects (12) are rotated about a rotational axis (48, 52, 56), and from which the objects (12) are removed with a second direction of movement (50, 54, 58) that is different from the first direction of movement (46, 50, 54).