Offset-Disk Conveyor Rollers for Horticultural Product Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyance systems for horticultural products, particularly those with oblong shapes, fail to consistently orient them correctly for complete surface analysis by optical instruments, leading to incorrect parameter acquisition and compromised productivity.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance apparatus using rotating assemblies with offset disks that force products to rotate and change orientation, ensuring complete surface exposure to optical instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional roller conveyance systems are used, then products can be moved along the conveyor line, but oblong horticultural products cannot be consistently oriented correctly for complete surface analysis by optical instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic rolling elements (rotating assemblies with offset disks) that actively change the orientation of oblong products during conveyance. These elements rotate the products to ensure the prevailing dimension becomes parallel to the roller axes, enabling complete surface exposure to optical instruments and accurate parameter acquisition without compromising line productivity.
2Reliability
If products are forced to roll about themselves by rotating rollers, then spherical products can be analyzed completely, but oblong products do not orient correctly and irregular movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry through offset disks mounted on rotating assemblies. These offset disks create asymmetric forces during rotation that effectively orient oblong products with their prevailing dimension parallel to the roller axes. This asymmetric mechanism reliably controls product orientation, ensuring complete surface exposure to optical instruments while maintaining ease of operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different movement systems are used along the same line, then specific product requirements can be met, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal conveyance system where rotating assemblies with adjustable offset disks can handle both spherical and oblong horticultural products. By modifying the offset disk configuration, the same system adapts to different product shapes and orientation requirements, eliminating the need for multiple specialized movement systems and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for conveying horticultural products, which includes a component for cyclic movement along an advancement direction of a number of rotating assemblies; at least some pairs of assemblies, which are consecutive, define respective conveyance units for corresponding horticultural products, which can be rested on the pairs substantially above the interspace between the assemblies. Each assembly includes at least four rotating and circular disks; in each unit the external disks of each assembly have a larger diameter than the internal disks of the same assembly and a first internal disk, which is larger, of each assembly has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the other internal disk, which is smaller; moreover, the larger disks and the smaller disks are arranged so as to be mutually offset in the two assemblies of the same unit.