Packaging Conveyor Chain with Oblique Elastic Slats for Gentle Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems are unsuitable for gentle transport of pressure-sensitive products, often leading to unsteady running and uneven transport due to complex guide designs and relative movements of support caps, which can damage sensitive items.
Innovation Solution
The use of slat elements made of elastic material, oriented obliquely to the chain running direction, which apply edge pressure to products in a time-delayed manner, ensuring smoother acceleration and deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If support caps are articulated to chain pins to form a continuous support surface, then the conveyor chain can follow deflection on sprockets, but the support caps are not prevented from lifting off the running surface, leading to unsteady running and uneven transport
Solution Approach 1:
The support caps are designed with a U-shaped cross-section that articulates to chain pins, creating a flexible yet stable structure. The U-shape allows the caps to follow deflection on sprockets while maintaining contact with the running surface, preventing lifting off and ensuring steady conveyor chain operation.
2Ease of operation
If a large number of support caps are placed on the conveyor chain to form a continuous support surface, then packaging can be directly placed on the conveyor chain, but the design of guide walls and running surface becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the support function from complex guide walls and running surfaces by using articulated support caps mounted on chain pins. This allows the conveyor chain itself to provide the necessary support and guidance, eliminating the need for complex additional structures while enabling direct packaging placement on the chain.
3Productivity
If support caps are assigned to each chain pin, then the conveyor chain can provide continuous support, but the support caps can be subject to relative movement due to chain play, causing uneven transport
Solution Approach 1:
The support caps are designed to articulate dynamically with the chain pins, allowing them to accommodate chain movement and play while maintaining stable contact with the running surface. This dynamic articulation ensures that the support caps remain properly positioned despite chain flexion, providing continuous and uniform support for packaging.
4Productivity
If conventional conveyor chains are used to transport pressure-sensitive products, then the products can be moved through the packaging line, but the products are subjected to abrupt acceleration and deceleration, risking damage
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated support caps create a cushioning effect by allowing slight articulation movements that absorb shocks and reduce abrupt acceleration and deceleration forces on pressure-sensitive products. This beforehand cushioning protects products from mechanical stress while maintaining efficient transport through the packaging line.
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
This design achieves a gentler transport of pressure-sensitive products by minimizing abrupt changes in speed and maintaining product stability, reducing the risk of damage.
Implementation Method 1
slat elements made of elastic material, oriented obliquely to the chain running direction, which apply edge pressure to products in a time-delayed manner
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device in or for a packaging machine with at least one conveyor chain (1) rotating in a chain direction (5), which has a plurality of chain links (3) pivotally connected to one another about a chain link axis (4) via transversely extending chain pins (2). According to the invention, it is particularly provided that lamellar elements (6) are mounted on the chain links (3), in particular interchangeably, which have lamellae (7) formed from an elastic material, in particular a spring-elastic material, which are oriented obliquely to the chain direction (5).