Flexible Conveying Belt with Cavities for Dual-Sided Marking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveying and marking apparatuses for discrete pieces are limited by speed, fill efficiency, and the ability to print on both sides of pieces without complex transfer mechanisms, and they often occupy too much space and require complex construction.
Innovation Solution
A continuous flexible conveying belt with cavities on both sides for dual-sided printing, using a retaining member to secure pieces during transport, and a marking unit positioned along the transport path for high-speed, high-resolution printing without the need for vacuum or trapping mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional carrier bar systems are used to convey discrete pieces, then pieces can be transported and printed, but the transport speed is limited to 50-75 feet per minute with a practical maximum of 100 feet per minute
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible belt with cavities instead of rigid carrier bars. The flexible belt can conform to the pieces and maintain piece stability through the cavity structure while allowing higher speeds. The belt flexibility enables it to accommodate piece variations and maintain reliable transport at speeds exceeding 100 feet per minute without pieces rattling or popping out.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous flexible belt is segmented into multiple cavities that individually hold discrete pieces. This segmentation allows each piece to be securely contained in its own cavity while the entire belt system moves at high speed. The cavity structure provides individual piece stability while enabling collective high-speed transport of multiple pieces simultaneously.
2Productivity
If transport speed is increased in conventional systems, then throughput increases, but pieces begin to rattle in the pockets and pop out during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible belt with integrated cavities provides a form-fitting containment structure that secures pieces during high-speed transport. The cavity design works in conjunction with the belt's flexibility to maintain piece retention through various phases of motion, enabling throughput increases without piece loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavities are designed to receive and secure pieces before high-speed transport begins. The preliminary positioning of pieces within the cavities ensures they are properly contained prior to acceleration, preventing rattling and pop-out issues that occur when pieces are not pre-secured in conventional systems.
3Speed
If conventional carrier bar systems are used, then pieces can be conveyed, but fill efficiency decreases at higher speeds as pieces skip over pockets or travel on the carrier bar surface
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible belt with cavities creates a contained environment that guides pieces into proper positioning. The cavity structure prevents pieces from skipping over or traveling on the surface during high-speed filling operations, maintaining high fill efficiency even at increased transport speeds.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems are used to print on two sides of a piece, then dual-sided printing is achieved, but complex transfer mechanisms are required involving drums or multiple conveyors
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible belt is designed with cavities that have openings on both sides, allowing marking units to access and print on opposite surfaces of each piece while the piece remains in a single location. This eliminates the need for complex transfer mechanisms to flip or relocate pieces between printing stations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of transferring pieces through time and space between separate printing stations, the invention accesses both sides of each piece simultaneously in the same spatial plane. The cavity structure with dual openings enables marking units to print on opposite surfaces without requiring piece rotation or transfer to different conveyors.
5Adaptability or versatility
If vertically oriented carrier bars are used for dual-sided printing, then pieces can be printed on opposite sides, but throughput is limited to a single lane and portions of the printing surface are obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible belt is divided into multiple lanes of cavities, with each cavity providing dual-sided access. This segmentation allows multiple pieces to be processed simultaneously in parallel lanes while maintaining full printing surface accessibility on both sides of each piece, overcoming the single-lane limitation of vertically oriented carrier bars.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4B~5B
AI summary
A conveying and marking apparatus is disclosed that can convey discrete pieces at high speeds, and in preferred embodiments permits marking on opposite sides of the pieces while the pieces remain in the same position on the conveyor.