Pallet Centering Device U-Channel Rail Heavy Load Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pallet centering devices fail to reliably accommodate various sizes, weights, and shapes of stacked pallets, particularly heavy pallets, and often experience equipment failure under such conditions.
Innovation Solution
A pallet centering device with a support frame and opposed pallet pusher units mounted on conveyor rollers, featuring flanged roller bearings and a drive system for reciprocal movement along a U-channel rail, ensuring alignment and centering of heavy pallets on a conveyor line for effective film wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pallet centering devices are used, then light to medium pallets can be centered, but heavy pallets (4000+ pounds) cause equipment failure and cannot be reliably accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The pallet pusher units are made movable along the conveyor line rather than being fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions to center pallets of varying weights and sizes. The pusher units can reciprocate along the conveyor to accommodate different pallet configurations while maintaining reliable operation with heavy pallets.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows for adjustment of pusher unit positions and configurations to change operational parameters. The pusher units can be positioned at different locations along the conveyor and adjusted to handle various pallet weights, thereby adapting the centering mechanism to match the specific weight and dimensions of each pallet being processed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed pallet centering device is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various sizes, weights and shapes of stacked pallets
Solution Approach 1:
The centering device is divided into separate, modular pallet pusher units that can independently move along the conveyor. Each pusher unit operates as an independent module, allowing the system to handle diverse pallet configurations without requiring a completely complex redesign. This segmentation provides versatility while keeping individual components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet pusher units are designed to perform multiple functions: they can center pallets of various weights, accommodate different pallet sizes and shapes, and adjust their positions along the conveyor. This multi-functionality allows a single device design to handle diverse pallet types without requiring multiple specialized devices.
3Manufacturing precision
If the pallet pusher units move towards each other to center a subject pallet, then centering is achieved, but the pusher units must travel along a support structure that can handle heavy loads
Solution Approach 1:
The U-channel rail serves as an intermediary support structure between the heavy pallets and the pusher units. This rail system provides a robust pathway that can handle the heavy loads while allowing the pusher units to move precisely along a defined track, thereby achieving accurate centering without requiring the entire support structure to bear the full brunt of the heavy pallet weights during movement.
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
The device effectively centers heavy pallets on the conveyor line, enhancing load-carrying capability and preventing equipment failure, ensuring reliable operation even with heavy and varied pallet loads.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one U-channel rail is located on the support frame below the conveyor rollers. Also associated with the device is a drive system for reciprocally moving the first and second pallet pusher units towards and away from a subject pallet located on the conveyor rollers. Each of the first and second pallet pusher units is connected, as by a depending foot, to a respective power transmission member such as a drive belt or chain. The direction of rotation of a motor pulley to which the transmission members are attached causes the pallet pusher units to move towards or away from each other.
Implementation Method 2
By using flanged roller bearings, the alignment of the roller bearings within the channel rail is maintained.
Data Source
AI summary
A pallet centering device includes a frame upon which is mounted a plurality of conveyor rollers, the conveyor rollers mounted transverse to a direction of pallet travel. A first pallet pusher unit and a second pallet pusher unit are associated with respective sides of the support frame, both for reciprocal movement transverse to the direction of pallet travel. The first and second pallet pusher units each have pallet pusher members configured for engaging respective sides of a pallet. At least one transverse U-channel rail is mounted to the support frame beneath the conveyor rollers and defining a channel track. Each first and second pallet pusher unit has at least one depending bearing mount aligned with the channel track and provided with a bearing rotatably engaging the channel track. A drive assembly moves the first and second pallet pusher units reciprocally for centering the pallet located on the conveyor rollers.