Modular Curve Conveyor for Scalable Width and Smooth Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing curve conveyors face issues such as fixed width dimensions, strong polygon effects, and inability to support products near the center, leading to orientation loss and compatibility challenges with standard conveyor systems.
Innovation Solution
A curve conveyor design featuring modular conveyor modules with flat top surfaces and adjustable width, allowing for a continuous conveying surface, and a drive system with equal angular speed and simplified sprocket wheel configuration to ensure scalability and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conveyor segments have a fixed width dimension, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the conveyor cannot be scaled to fit different guiding track widths
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is divided into modular conveyor segments that can be independently arranged and configured. Each segment can be positioned at different radial positions, allowing the conveyor width to be adjusted by changing the number and arrangement of segments, thus achieving scalability without increasing individual segment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor design transitions from a fixed linear arrangement to a radial arrangement where segments can be positioned at different distances from the center of curvature. This radial dimensionality allows the conveyor to adapt to different guiding track widths while maintaining a standardized segment design
2Adaptability or versatility
If chain strands are spaced apart at equal radial pitch, then the conveyor can be scaled, but a strong polygon effect occurs on the outer edge causing poor product transfer
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the conveyor are designed with different characteristics: inner chain strands have larger radial pitch while outer chain strands have smaller radial pitch. This local variation in pitch compensates for the polygon effect on the outer edge, ensuring smooth product transfer across the entire conveyor width while maintaining scalability
Solution Approach 2:
The radial pitch between chain strands is varied as a parameter along the radial direction. By changing the pitch parameter from inner to outer strands, the system achieves both scalability and mitigation of the polygon effect, allowing width adjustment without the harmful transfer issues
3Area of stationary object
If products are placed near the center of the conveying path, then space is utilized efficiently, but product orientation is lost due to contact with the stationary hold-down plate
Solution Approach 1:
The hold-down plate is transformed from a stationary component to a dynamic one that moves together with the conveyor modules. This ensures that the hold-down plate maintains the same velocity and trajectory as the products, preventing orientation loss while allowing products to be placed near the center for efficient space utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The hold-down plate is integrated with the moving conveyor modules rather than being a separate stationary component. This merging ensures that the hold-down plate and products move together through the curve, maintaining relative position and orientation while enabling central product placement
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
Curve conveyor (1), comprising a guiding track extending along a circular arc (2), which guides a conveying part (3) of an endless conveyor (4), the conveying part comprising a plurality of chain strands (5, 6, 7) which with a common center of curvature (C) are spaced apart at an equal radial pitch, and a drive (8) cooperating with the chain strands, which during operation leads the chain strands at a mutually equal angular speed through the guiding track, wherein the chain strands are each built up from a singular series of successive conveyor modules (9) which are each provided at their top with a substantially flat top surface, and wherein the radial pitch between the chain strands substantially corresponds to the radial width of the conveyor modules so that sides of the conveyor modules with enclosure of a narrow gap adjoin and the top surfaces in the conveying part form a substantially uninterrupted conveying surface.