Pin-Bush Pivot Coupling for Pneumatic-Tight Modular Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current modular conveyor systems suffer from incomplete pneumatic tightness, leading to energy losses, increased noise, and wear due to sliding connections, and lack the ability to selectively switch off pneumatic medium supply to individual modules, resulting in inefficiencies and downtime when defective products are encountered.
Innovation Solution
A pin and bush pivot coupling with internal channels and sealed chambers ensures tight pneumatic communication between modules, allowing for selective supply of vacuum or compressed air to individual working cavities through a main module connected to an external source via flexible hoses and valves, enabling precise control over medium distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sliding connections are used to connect modules in a conveyor, then the conveyor can be assembled and disassembled easily, but pneumatic tightness is incomplete leading to energy losses and increased noise
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is inserted into the bush, creating a nested connection where the pin (outer element) houses the bush (inner element). This nested structure allows for precise alignment and tight pneumatic connections between modules while maintaining ease of assembly through simple insertion and retention features.
2Device complexity
If sliding connections are used to connect modules, then the conveyor structure remains simple, but wear occurs due to friction between moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system uses pneumatic pressure to create a tight seal between modules. The pin-bush assembly incorporates sealing elements that utilize pneumatic pressure to maintain contact and prevent leakage, replacing reliance on friction-based sliding connections with pneumatic sealing mechanisms.
3Productivity
If pneumatic medium is supplied to all modules continuously, then all working cavities receive vacuum or compressed air, but selective control over individual modules is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic supply system is divided into separate controllable segments for each module. Each pin-bush connection includes individual sealing elements and pneumatic pathways that can be independently controlled, allowing selective supply of vacuum or compressed air to specific modules while maintaining continuous conveyor operation.
4Device complexity
If manifolds are used to supply pneumatic medium to multiple modules, then the supply system is simplified, but the ability to isolate individual modules is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system transitions from static manifold connections to dynamic, selectively controllable pin-bush connections. Each connection point can dynamically switch between connected and isolated states through controllable sealing elements, allowing the system to adapt between unified supply mode and selective isolation mode as operational needs change.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1d
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A pin and bush pivot coupling for connecting a pair of mutually rotatable modules (15-16; 15-17; 16-17; 16-44; 16-43), the first module of the pair having at least one first coupling member (Z2) consisting of two bushes and the second module of the pair having at least one second coupling member (Z1) consisting of one bush which is located in the coupling between the bushes of the first module, in which each coupling member (Z1, Z2) comprises at least one internal channel (19, 20) ending in an outlet opening (19', 20') and enabling flow of a pneumatic medium, the coupling further including a hollow pin (14) extending through both coupling members (Z1, Z2), the pin (14) being mounted in the coupling immovably with respect to one of the coupling members (Z1, Z2) and rotatably with respect to the other of the coupling members (Z1, Z2), and wherein the pin-rotatable coupling member (Z1, Z2) comprises a sealed chamber (14') and the pin (14) comprises: a first hole (22) thightly communicating with the outlet opening of the internal channel (20) located in the pin-immovable coupling member (Z1, Z2) and at least one second hole (23) providing pneumatic communication via the sealed chamber (14') with the outlet opening of the internal channel (20) located in the pin-rotatable coupling member (Z1, Z2), so that the pin (14) ensures a thigh pneumatic communication between the channels (20) of neighboring modules (15, 16, 17, 43, 44) during their movement. A modular conveyor including a plurality of modules interconnected by means of the pin and bush pivot couplings according to the invention.