Product Diverter for Reciprocating Conveyor Vibration Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing diverter arms for reciprocally movable conveyor beds face issues with product contamination and damage due to space between the diverter arm and the conveyor belt, and manual operation is problematic due to vibration transmission, leading to wear and tear.

Innovation Solution

An automated product diverter with a stationary base, a reciprocally movable conveyor bed, and a diverter arm that moves in an arc, where the reciprocal movement of the conveyor bed is vibrationally isolated from the actuator, using adjustable bumpers or rollers to maintain a gap or constant contact, allowing the diverter arm to pivot automatically without transmitting vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the diverter arm is physically separated from the product transporting surface, then the diverter arm can be positioned above the conveyor bed, but product may be trapped in the space between the diverter arm and conveyor bed leading to contamination and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediverter arm positioningVSAvoidproduct contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter arm is configured to move dynamically with the reciprocating conveyor bed, maintaining a consistent relationship between the diverter arm and product surface. This dynamic configuration eliminates dead spaces where product could become trapped while allowing the diverter arm to remain effective in diverting product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the diverter arm is directly interconnected to the product transporting surface, then the space between diverter arm and conveyor bed is eliminated, but the vibrational motion of the conveyor bed is transmitted to the diverter arm causing wear and manual operation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct contaminationVSAvoiddiverter arm durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter arm assembly is segmented into multiple components: the diverter arm itself, a mounting bracket, and a cushioning element. This segmentation allows the diverter arm to maintain close proximity to the product surface while the cushioning element absorbs the vibrational shocks from the reciprocating conveyor bed, protecting the arm from excessive wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A cushioning element is incorporated between the diverter arm mounting bracket and the conveyor bed to beforehand absorb and dampen the vibrational motions. This prior cushioning prevents the harsh vibrations from being transmitted directly to the diverter arm, reducing wear and enabling more reliable automated operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If manual operation of the diverter arm is used, then the diverter arm can be positioned and oriented by an operator, but automated movement is problematic due to exacerbated wear and tear from vibration transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediverter arm positioningVSAvoidautomated diverter operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The cushioning element is positioned in advance between the diverter arm assembly and the conveyor bed to beforehand absorb vibrational shocks. This cushioning makes the system suitable for automated operation by protecting mechanical components from excessive wear that would otherwise occur with direct vibration transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Device complexity

If the diverter arm is spaced above the product transporting surface, then the diverter arm structure is simplified, but product may be trapped/wedged in the space leading to smearing and destruction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediverter arm structureVSAvoidproduct damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The diverter arm is configured to move dynamically with the conveyor bed's reciprocating motion, maintaining an optimized spacing relationship. This dynamic configuration simplifies the overall structure by eliminating complex adjustment mechanisms while preventing product entrapment through proper spacing maintenance during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11577918B2Product diverter for a reciprocally movable conveying device

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 KEY TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

An automated product diverter for a reciprocally movable conveying device generally provides a stationary base; a reciprocally movable conveyor bed supported by the stationary base; a product diverter that moves in an arc along a product transporting surface of the reciprocally movable conveyor; and an actuator carried by the stationary base and which operatively communicates with the diverter arm, and the reciprocal movement of the conveyor bed and the diverter arm is isolated from the actuator carried by the stationary base.