Reconfigurable Chain Guide Actuation for Conveyor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chain guides impose design constraints on systems engineers due to their fixed configurations, limiting the integration of components in machinery and not allowing for efficient movement of objects along conveyor systems without contact issues.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable chain guide system featuring a movable piece and a stationary piece made of ultra-high molecular weight material, with an actuator controlling the movable piece to switch between raised and lowered positions, maintaining a constant chain path length and adjusting the flight lug's position to avoid contact with cases on a conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed chain guide configuration is used, then the chain is constrained to follow a particular course, but the system imposes design constraints on component integration and lacks adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The chain guide is divided into a stationary portion and a movable portion that can be independently positioned. The movable portion can be raised or lowered relative to the stationary portion, allowing the chain guide to adapt to different component configurations while maintaining reliable chain constraint when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The chain guide transitions from a static fixed configuration to a dynamic reconfigurable system. The movable portion can change position between raised and lowered states, enabling the chain guide to adapt to varying operational requirements and component arrangements.
2Reliability
If a fixed chain guide configuration is used, then the chain path is defined, but the flight lug cannot avoid contact with cases on the conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The movable portion of the chain guide can be lowered to reposition the flight lug below the case travel plane, eliminating harmful contact between the flight lug and cases on the conveyor while maintaining a defined chain path through the stationary portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The flight lug position is adjusted in the vertical dimension by lowering the movable portion of the chain guide. This dimensional change allows the flight lug to clear the horizontal plane of case travel, preventing contact while maintaining chain path definition.
3Reliability
If the chain guide is made of ultra-high molecular weight material, then the chain is protected and people/machinery are protected from contact, but the design constraints on system integration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ultra-high molecular weight material chain guide is segmented into stationary and movable portions. This segmentation allows the protective functionality to be maintained while reducing integration complexity, as the movable portion can be independently positioned to accommodate different system configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable chain guide system is described herein. In one example, movable and stationary pieces of chain guide define a chain path. An actuator moves the movable piece of chain guide between first and second positions with respect to the stationary piece of chain guide. A length of the chain path is not changed when the movable piece of chain guide is moved between the first and second positions. This may be accomplished, for example, if the movable piece includes first and second curved segments, which contact the chain in the first and second positions of the movable piece of chain guide, respectively. In an operational example, a chain traveling the chain path may carry a flight lug, which may engage or not engage cases moving on a conveyor depending on a position of the movable piece of chain guide.