Modular Conveyor Transport Units with Interchangeable Widths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems require complex and costly modifications to accommodate products of different widths, necessitating the replacement of entire conveyor lines, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A modular conveyor system with interchangeable transport units of varying widths, where each unit can be easily connected or disconnected from a base without tools, allowing for quick adaptation to different product widths without replacing the base, and incorporating load cells for weighing functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire conveyor line is replaced to accommodate different product widths, then the system can handle different widths, but the conversion is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into modular transport units that can be independently exchanged. Each transport unit has a specific width and can be replaced without affecting other units, enabling quick adaptation to different product widths by simply swapping the appropriate module
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure is designed with universal mechanical interfaces that can accommodate multiple variants of transport units with different widths. This allows a single base to support various product widths through interface compatibility, eliminating the need for complete system replacement
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire conveyor line is replaced to accommodate different product widths, then the system can handle different widths, but the costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the conveyor into replaceable transport units, only the necessary module needs to be manufactured or purchased for each product width variant, rather than manufacturing or purchasing an entire new conveyor line, significantly reducing conversion costs
Solution Approach 2:
The universal base structure with standardized interfaces can be used across multiple product width configurations, allowing the expensive base to be reused while only investing in the cheaper, interchangeable transport units
3Ease of operation
If transport units are made interchangeable without tools, then the exchange is simplified, but the interface design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical interface incorporates self-locking and self-aligning features that automatically engage when a transport unit is placed on the base, eliminating the need for manual fastening operations or specialized tools while maintaining secure connection
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 rapid and cost-effective adjustments to conveyor configurations, reduces operational downtime, and integrates weighing capabilities without the need for extensive recalibration or new equipment, enhancing flexibility and precision in product handling.
Implementation Method 1
The base can comprise a plurality of load cells arranged essentially next to one another transversely to the transport direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to a system for conveying objects along a transport direction, comprising a base which forms several mechanical interfaces arranged essentially side by side transversely to the transport direction, and several transport units each forming exactly one track, wherein each of the transport units has a mechanical interface corresponding to at least one of the mechanical interfaces of the base, which is designed such that the transport units can be mechanically connected to the base and the transport units can each be completely removed from the base separately from one another, and wherein the transport units are available in at least two different widths, i.e.in a narrower version and a wider version, and at least one of the mechanical interfaces of the base is designed and equipped to be alternately connected to an interface of the narrower version or an interface of the wider version of the transport unit, so that the system can be changed with regard to the number and/or width of the tracks.