Curved Conveyor Point Device for Container Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems require extensive testing and assembly to align segment diverters correctly, leading to increased assembly work and delayed commissioning due to the need for precise orientation of elements based on customer products, which can result in twisting or wedging issues during transport.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor apparatus with a point device and selection tools that include contact devices to selectively change the direction of objects, allowing for curved transport paths without intervention, enabling a complete segment conveyor and diverter design where objects are conveyed along a curved path by default, reducing the need for precise alignment and minimizing twisting or wedging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a segment diverter is used to change the direction of objects on a conveyor belt, then objects can be discharged onto a laterally mounted conveyor, but twisting or wedging occurs and precise alignment testing is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a segment diverter that changes direction at a point (which causes alignment issues), the patent inverts the approach by using a curved conveyor belt that gradually changes direction over an extended path. This eliminates the need for precise alignment at a single point and prevents twisting or wedging of objects during direction change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a curved conveyor belt design where the conveyor path is smoothly curved rather than straight with abrupt changes. This curvature allows objects to be discharged at angles while maintaining stable contact with the conveyor surface, eliminating twisting or wedging issues that occur with straight segment diverters.
2Manufacturing precision
If the position of the segment diverter is determined by several tests, then correct alignment can be achieved, but assembly work and commissioning time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The curved conveyor belt design is pre-configured with the correct curvature and direction change parameters during manufacturing. This preliminary design ensures that no additional alignment testing or adjustment is needed during assembly or commissioning, as the geometry is inherently correct by design rather than requiring field calibration.
3Device complexity
If a straight-line conveyor is used with a segment diverter, then the main conveyor line remains simple, but the discharge path requires complex alignment and testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the main conveyor function with the discharge function into a single integrated curved conveyor belt. This eliminates the need for separate segment diverters and discharge conveyors, combining multiple functions into one component that requires no additional alignment or testing, thereby simplifying both the device structure and assembly process.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus for transporting objects and in particular containers and/or liquid containers with a first conveyor device which is arranged at least temporarily below the objects to be conveyed and which conveys the objects, wherein the conveyor device includes a point device, and a feed section which conveys the objects to the point device, and wherein the objects are selectively conveyable along at least a first discharge section and a second discharge section by the point device, wherein the feed section extends substantially rectilinearly and wherein the first discharge section follows the feed section in a rectilinear manner and the second discharge section deviates from the rectilinear course of the feed section, and wherein the apparatus includes a selection tool for selectively conveying the objects onto the first discharge section or the second discharge section.