Curved Compartment Bottom Surface for Shock-Sensitive Product Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices for shock-sensitive products, such as eggs, face issues with impact damage during transfer due to sudden acceleration and inflexibility in adapting to varying egg sizes and local conditions, leading to potential product damage and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor device incorporates a curvature in the bottom surface of the conveyor belt to reduce impact force, allowing products to gently slide or roll between support surfaces, and features modular design with adjustable conveyor belt links to accommodate different egg sizes and local conditions, including a braking ramp and damping section for gentle deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between partitions is increased to accommodate loading/unloading and size variations, then the adaptability to different egg sizes is improved, but the impact force on eggs during transfer is increased causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the compartment is given a specific curvature opposite to the conveyor belt path curvature. This curvature creates a cushioning effect that reduces the impact force when eggs transition from upward to downward conveying, while still allowing adequate compartment spacing for different egg sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the bottom surface from flat to curved. This parameter change transforms the impact dynamics, reducing the harmful impact force while maintaining the necessary compartment dimensions for adaptability to different egg sizes.
2Device complexity
If a fixed-length conveyor belt is used, then the device structure is simplified, but the adaptability to local conditions and varying egg volumes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is divided into multiple individual links or segments that can be connected in varying numbers. This segmentation allows the overall belt length to be adjusted according to local conditions and egg volumes, while each individual link maintains a simple, standardized structure.
3Length of stationary object
If the conveyor belt is deflected sharply over the upper deflection device, then the conveying path is shortened, but the acceleration and impact force on eggs are increased causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface curvature is specifically designed to be opposite to the conveyor belt path curvature over the deflection device. This counter-curvature creates a natural cushioning effect that reduces impact force during deflection while maintaining an efficient conveying path.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved bottom surface acts as a pre-positioned cushioning element that prepares the eggs for the upcoming deflection and impact, reducing the harmful effects before they occur during the transfer from upward to downward conveying.
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
This design significantly reduces the risk of product damage during transfer by minimizing impact force and allows for flexible adaptation to different egg sizes and conveying conditions, enhancing the efficiency and adaptability of the conveyor system.
Implementation Method 1
the bottom surface has a curvature in order to reduce an impact force acting on a product conveyed in the compartment when the conveyor belt is moved over the upper deflection device
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device (10) for shock-sensitive products, comprising a belt conveyor with at least one individual compartment (64) for receiving at least one product, an upward-facing belt conveyor section (20) and a downward-facing belt conveyor section (40), and a top deflection mechanism (30, 31) for deflecting the belt conveyor from the upward-facing belt conveyor section to the downward-facing belt conveyor section. The individual compartment is defined by a first surface (61d) for supporting a product that is placed therein when said product is conveyed upwards, a second surface (62e) for supporting a product that is placed therein when the product is conveyed downwards, and a bottom surface (63a) for supporting the product when the belt conveyor is moved across the top deflection mechanism. The bottom surface of the individual compartment is provided with a curvature at least when running through the top deflection mechanism, said curvature being shaped such that a product that is placed in the individual compartment is guided from the first supporting surface to the second supporting surface in such a way when running through the top deflection mechanism that an impact force which is not critical for the product is applied between the product and the second supporting surface.