External-Contour Maglev Shuttle Conveying for Flexible Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines using magnetic rail and planar motor conveyors face economic barriers due to high costs and complexity, and they are limited in adapting to different container formats and operation times, especially when dealing with flexible containers.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with mobile shuttles by magnetic levitation that operate outside the normal projection of a horizontal transit surface, allowing flexible containers to be conveyed and operated on without mechanical interference, reducing the required transit surface area and minimizing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnetic rail conveyors with closed path rails are used to convey flexible containers, then the containers can be conveyed and operated on, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the containers from the traditional closed-loop magnetic rail system and conveys them through a linear conveyor that passes through the projection of the transit surface. This extraction eliminates the need for complex curved sections and mechanical linking of arms, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to convey and operate on flexible containers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the conveying path from a horizontal closed-loop plane to a three-dimensional path that goes through the projection of the transit surface. By utilizing the vertical dimension and passing through the projection area, the system achieves more efficient space utilization and reduces the overall system complexity
2Device complexity
If the transit surface area is reduced to minimize costs, then the economic barrier decreases, but the ability to adapt to different container formats and operation times is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of shuttle movement along the linear conveyor, allowing individual shuttles to be accelerated, decelerated, or stopped at different positions. This dynamic control enables adaptation to different container formats and operation times without requiring a larger transit surface area, as the system can flexibly adjust shuttle positions and speeds to accommodate various packaging requirements
3Reliability
If arms are mechanically linked to remain parallel in curved sections, then conveying is ensured, but adaptability to all container formats is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the conveying function into multiple independent shuttles that move along a linear path rather than using mechanically linked arms in curved sections. Each shuttle operates independently, allowing the system to handle various container formats without requiring mechanical linking, thus maintaining conveying reliability while improving adaptability
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 enables efficient and cost-effective packaging of flexible containers by minimizing the transit surface area, adapting to different container formats, and optimizing operation times without the need for complex magnetic security means.
Implementation Method 1
A conveyor system with mobile shuttles by magnetic levitation that operate outside the normal projection of a horizontal transit surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5a
Figure 5b~7
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system (100, 101) for conveying articles along several workstations (70, 71, 72, 73, 74) with mobile shuttles (11, 11') by magnetic levitation with respect to a transit surface (12), having a given contour (14), following paths that can be predetermined in advance, the shuttles (11) being equipped with holding means (20) for holding at least one article that are configured such that they extend, or are capable of extending, outside the projection zn of their associated shuttle, where the projection zn is the projection of the shuttle in the direction normal to the transit surface (12) with respect to which said shuttles levitate; and the predeterminable paths comprise an operational section (T1, T2) along which the holding means (20) of the shuttles (11) that run along said operational section are arranged outside the projection ZN of the transit surface (12), where the projection ZN is the projection in the direction normal to said transit surface (12), enabling the shuttles (11) to convey the articles outside the given contour (14) of the transit surface (12) and by workstations (70, 71, 72, 73, 74) located to operate on the articles conveyed outside the contour (14) of the transit surface (12).