Overhead Loading Belt for Accurate Product Stacking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stacking systems face challenges in maintaining uniformity and alignment of items on substrates during loading and dropping, leading to misalignment and loss of products, especially with non-uniform items like cooked bacon on paper substrates.
Innovation Solution
A conveying and stacking apparatus with an overhead loading belt assembly and movable platforms, utilizing sensors and actuators to precisely position and drop items or substrates onto a stacking platform, ensuring accurate and repeatable stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If items are stacked directly on one another or with substrate using conventional stackers, then stacking speed can be maintained, but alignment uniformity and item retention deteriorate due to item sliding and misalignment during loading and dropping
Solution Approach 1:
An overhead loading belt assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the infeed conveyor and stacking platform. The belt carries items during transfer, providing controlled support that prevents sliding and misalignment while maintaining efficient stacking operations
Solution Approach 2:
The loading belt operates in a vertical dimension above the conventional horizontal conveyor plane. This spatial reconfiguration allows the belt to engage items from above during transfer, providing superior control over item positioning and alignment without interfering with the horizontal flow on the conveyor
2Productivity
If conventional stackers are used for non-uniform items like cooked bacon on substrate, then processing can continue, but item loss increases due to sliding during loading and dropping operations
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead loading belt serves as a mediating transport mechanism that gently carries items during the critical transfer phase. This intermediary support system prevents items from sliding off the substrate during loading and dropping, thereby reducing product loss while maintaining continuous processing
Solution Approach 2:
The loading belt performs preliminary positioning and stabilization of items before they are dropped onto the stacking platform. This preliminary action ensures items are properly aligned and secured to their substrate, preventing loss during the subsequent dropping operation
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying and stacking apparatus for stacking items or substrates carrying items received from an infeed conveyor is provided. The stacker has a housing and at least one movable platform upon which the item or substrate with one or more items located thereon is placed. An overhead loading belt assembly which includes at least one belt assembly positioned to travel over at least a portion of the infeed conveyor adjacent to the at least one moveable platform and the at least one moveable platform is provided. The at least one belt assembly carries the item or the substrate with the items located thereon to a stacking position on the at least one platform.