Holed Feed Belt with Guide Surface for Conveyor Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belt systems lack efficient and controlled methods for arranging individual products, especially small or rollable items, in predetermined positions, often requiring laborious separation and separate feeding devices, which is inefficient and space-constrained.
Innovation Solution
A feed belt with holes adapted to product dimensions, combined with a guide element featuring a guiding surface, ensures products are aligned and transported to specific positions on the conveyor belt, allowing for synchronized transport speeds and precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate feeding devices are used for controlled feeding of individual products, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed belt is segmented with multiple holes distributed across its surface, each hole acting as an independent receptacle for individual products. This segmentation allows each product to be individually positioned and controlled while using a single integrated feed belt structure, eliminating the need for multiple separate feeding devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed belt serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transports products from the storage container, provides singulation through its holes, positions products in predetermined arrangements, and delivers them to the conveyor belt. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate devices into one universal feeding system.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate feeding devices are used for different product positions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the available space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple feeding functions for different product positions are merged into a single feed belt with multiple holes. The feed belt consolidates what would traditionally require multiple spatially separated feeding devices, thereby maximizing the use of available space while maintaining precise positioning capabilities across multiple locations.
3Productivity
If a feeder belt is positioned between storage container and conveyor belt, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed belt with its distributed holes performs singulation and positioning automatically as products are deposited from the storage container. The holes themselves serve as the singulation mechanism, eliminating the need for additional complex mechanisms. Products are passively guided and positioned by the feed belt's structure and the guide surface, achieving high throughput with minimal additional complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If holes in feed belt are made small to hold individual products, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the number of products that can be fed simultaneously is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing hole size which would compromise positioning precision, the solution transitions to another dimension by distributing multiple holes across the entire surface area of the feed belt. This allows many individual products to be held and positioned simultaneously in parallel, each in its own precisely-defined hole location, thereby increasing throughput without sacrificing positioning precision.
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
Enables reliable, efficient, and space-saving arrangement of multiple products in predetermined positions on the conveyor belt with minimal effort, enhancing throughput and facilitating automated quality control.
Implementation Method 1
a friction grip between the feed belt and the products to be fed onto the conveyor belt in the feed area
Implementation Method 2
one product can fall through each associated hole
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a feeding device (1) for feeding products (7) out of a storage container (4) onto a conveyor belt moving in a conveyor direction (8), a feeding belt (2) at a storage container opening (15) on a lower side of the storage container (4) receiving products (7) to be conveyed and transporting them to an upper side (5) of the conveyor belt (6), in order to feed the products (7) to the conveyor belt (6), in a feeding region (12) on the upper side (5) of the conveyor belt (6). Said feeding belt (2) comprises a number of holes (9), the dimensions of which are adapted to the products (7) to be conveyed such that a respective product (7) can fall through an associated hole (9). A guiding element (10) extending from the storage container opening (15) to the feeding region (12) on the upper side (5) of the conveyor belt (6), comprising a guiding surface (11) arranged directly beneath the feeding belt (2), is arranged on a lower side of the feeding belt (2), in such a way that the guiding surface (11) prevents the products (7) from falling through the holes (9) of the feeding belt (2) until the products (7) in the feeding region (12) are fed onto the upper side (5) of the conveyor belt (6). The holes (9) are arranged in a matrix in the feeding belt (2). The guiding surface (11) of the guiding element (10) forms a low-friction and abrasion-resistant flat sliding surface.