Pivotable Conveyor Arm for Selective Container Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for loading and unloading goods from containers are not capable of continuous, fast, and reliable transportation, and do not allow for selective deposition of goods within the container.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor arm system with a transfer head that can move and pivot laterally and vertically, equipped with rotary conveyors and sensors, allowing for continuous transportation and precise alignment and deposition of goods without manual intervention, using manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a loading device is extended relative to the object to create a gap or separation, then the loading device can reach positions within the loading space, but the stream of goods is interrupted and cannot be continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor arm is made dynamically movable and pivotable rather than fixed, allowing it to reach various positions within the loading space. The arm can be moved laterally and vertically to access inaccessible areas while maintaining continuous goods transport capability, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system transitions from a single-dimensional linear conveyor belt to a multi-dimensional system with a movable arm that can pivot laterally and vertically. This adds spatial dimensions to the transport path, enabling access to three-dimensional loading spaces while maintaining continuous goods flow.
2Productivity
If manual removal of goods from the transfer head is required, then the device structure can be simpler, but the loading process is slower and less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer head is designed to automatically deposit goods at the desired position within the loading space without requiring manual intervention. The system performs the transfer operation itself through automated control of the conveyor arm positioning and transfer head deposition mechanism, increasing productivity while accepting increased device complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyor arm is made movable and pivotable to reach all positions, then accessibility to loading space is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor arm incorporates movable and pivotable sections with controllable drives, transforming a static conveyor into a dynamic positioning system. This allows the transfer head to reach any position within the loading space while maintaining continuous goods transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds lateral and vertical movement capabilities to the conventional linear conveyor, creating a multi-axis positioning system that can access three-dimensional loading spaces, thereby improving adaptability at the cost of increased mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention pertains to a device for loading goods into and/or unloading goods from a loading space 25, particularly a container, with a conveyor arm 1 that features a transfer station 5, 7, 9 for receiving the goods in the region of its proximal end and a transfer station 21, 23 for delivering the goods in the region of its distal end, wherein the conveyor arm 1 features a transport section 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 for transporting the goods from the transfer station 5, 7, 9 to the transfer station 20, wherein the transfer station 20 is realized in the form of a transfer and/or removal head 21, 23 that automatically deposits the goods at a predefined position in the loading space (25) and/or automatically picks up the goods from a predefined position in the loading space (25), and wherein the conveyor arm 1 is able to continuously transport the stream of successive goods to and/or from the predefined position.