Egg Conveyor With Upright Retaining Pockets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg conveyor systems are complex and inefficient in handling eggs, limiting capacity and space usage, and are not suitable for upright egg positioning which can lead to egg loss and printing quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A simpler egg conveyor design with upright egg retaining pockets and elastic elements, featuring a bearing structure with support arms and guiding tracks to maintain pockets upright, allowing closer packing and reducing the risk of egg damage and improving printing quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If eggs are held horizontally in conventional conveyors, then the conveyor structure is simpler, but the eggs cannot be properly positioned for printing and are prone to loss
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining pockets are designed to pivot dynamically between horizontal and upright positions. During transport, pockets remain horizontal for stability, but at the printing station they rotate to upright position to enable proper egg positioning and printing access, then return to horizontal position afterward
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a vertical dimension to the egg positioning by rotating the retaining pockets from horizontal to upright orientation. This dimensional change allows the egg's longitudinal axis to align vertically, providing proper positioning for printing while maintaining a relatively simple conveyor structure
2Productivity
If conveying speed is increased to raise capacity, then productivity improves, but egg release becomes unsafe due to excessive relative speed
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying system uses variable speed control where the conveyor operates at higher speeds during transport to maximize productivity, but automatically reduces speed at transfer and release points to ensure safe egg handling. This dynamic speed adjustment allows the system to achieve high overall capacity while maintaining safety during critical operations
3Manufacturing precision
If retaining pockets are allowed to rock or tip during circulation, then the conveyor structure is simpler, but eggs are lost or printing quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Guiding elements act as intermediaries between the retaining pockets and the conveyor frame. These guiding elements constrain the pockets to maintain proper orientation during circulation, preventing rocking and tipping that would compromise egg stability and printing quality, while adding minimal structural complexity
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 solution increases egg handling capacity per unit time and space, reduces equipment needs, and enhances printing quality by maintaining eggs upright and stable during transport and printing.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic elements provide cushioning of the egg when it is dropped from above into the pocket, whereby the risk of damaging of the egg is reduced
Implementation Method 2
The retaining pockets are each coupled to the endless element by a bearing structure allowing rotation of the retaining pocket around a rotational axis that extends parallel to the rotational axes of said rotational wheels
Data Source
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AI summary
An endless egg conveyor includes an endless element running around a set of rotational wheels and a drive unit defining a conveying direction of the conveyor. The conveyor has an upper run and a lower run and head sections where the direction of movement of the endless element between the upper run and the lower run is reversed. The conveyor furthermore includes at least one lane of egg retaining pockets coupled to the endless element, moving in the conveying direction. Each of the retaining pockets has a central axis and an upper receiving opening to receive an egg with a longitudinal axis of the egg generally aligned with said central axis. The retaining pockets are each coupled to the endless element by a bearing structure allowing rotation of the retaining pocket around a rotational axis extending parallel to the rotational axes of said rotational wheels, allowing the retaining pockets to remain in an upright position in every position in the lane. Adjacent retaining pockets of different lanes define a pocket row, wherein, the conveyor comprises carrying elements that carry the pockets of one row. The bearing structure of each pocket row comprises a support arm on either lateral side of the conveyor. The support arm is positioned upright with respect to the circulating endless element and rigidly connected thereto. The bearing structure of said pocket row comprises at least one spindle rigidly connected to the carrying element which pivotally connects the carrying element to the support arms.