Conveyor Turning Block Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems for animal carcasses in processing lines are prone to accidental misalignment due to external obstructions, which can lead to damage or defective products if not detected, and current solutions are cumbersome and expensive to assemble and operate.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a turning block alignment device that includes an aligning station with pins to selectively engage and rotate the turning blocks and article supports into a predetermined orientation, using magnetic indexing means to ensure correct positioning and prevent misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If yieldable indexing means are used to maintain turning block rotation between treatment stations, then the turning blocks can be retained in rotated positions, but the system becomes vulnerable to accidental external obstructions altering the rotational position
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning station performs preliminary action by forcing the turning block into the correct rotational position before the carriage reaches the treatment station. The pins in the aligning station engage with the turning block and mechanically force it into the predetermined correct orientation, preventing any misalignment that could occur due to external obstructions or accidental disturbances during transport between stations.
2Ease of operation
If parallel side guides are interrupted to allow turning gear rotation, then the turning gear can rotate the suspension hooks, but the turning blocks become vulnerable to accidental misalignment in between stations
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning station acts as an intermediary mechanism between the turning gear operation and the treatment station. After the turning gear rotates the suspension hooks to the desired orientation, the aligning station with its pins provides a final verification and correction step, ensuring the turning blocks are in the exact predetermined position before reaching the treatment station, thereby compensating for the vulnerability created by interrupted side guides.
3Productivity
If the conveyor system allows free rotation of turning blocks between stations, then the system is simpler to operate, but wrongly positioned suspension hangers can cause damage to treatment stations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical constraint systems (such as continuous parallel side guides that would prevent all misalignment but reduce operational flexibility) with a simpler aligning station using pins that periodically enforce correct positioning. This substitution maintains high productivity by allowing free rotation when needed while providing sufficient protection against misalignment through the periodic intervention of the aligning station.
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 system effectively protects processing stations from damage by ensuring that animal carcasses are correctly oriented, reducing the risk of misalignment and improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
the turning block and article support are selectively engaged by magnetic forces as the turning block moves through the aligning station
Data Source
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AI summary
Conveyor for moving and positioning objects along a conveyor path, the conveyor including: a conveyor rail (1) extending through a predefined conveying path; at least one carriage (5) having a rotatable article support; and a turning block (22) associated with the rotatable article support, to allow rotatable movement of the article support relative to the at least one carriage, wherein the conveyor further includes an aligning station ( 9 ) for rotating the article support into a predetermined position, wherein the turning block has first disk (41) with a first perimeter contour and a second disk (43) with a second perimeter contour, and wherein the alignment station has means for engaging the second disk for rotatingly aligning the article support into the predetermined position.