Right-Angled Conveyor Transfer Using Transverse Drive Belts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems with right-angled transfers often rely on complex and slow lifting mechanisms or mechanically/programmatically complex mechanisms that are prone to failure.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a transverse drive mechanism that includes a drive portion and a bypass portion on a belt, allowing objects to be redirected orthogonally without changing the height of the rollers, using motorized rollers and transverse drive belts with protruding teeth to engage and redirect objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex lifting mechanisms are used for right-angled transfer, then the transfer function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes slow and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer mechanism is segmented into independent transverse drive units, each with its own drive belt and rollers. This allows the system to achieve right-angled transfer through simple lateral movement of segmented components rather than complex lifting mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining transfer reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical lifting (one dimension) to horizontal transverse movement (another dimension) to achieve right-angled transfer. By moving objects laterally off the main conveyor path and onto a perpendicular conveyor, the system achieves the same transfer function without complex vertical lifting mechanisms
2Reliability
If complex lifting mechanisms are used for right-angled transfer, then the transfer function is achieved, but the transfer speed becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into independent transverse drive sections that can operate simultaneously and independently. This segmentation allows multiple objects to be transferred in parallel, significantly increasing transfer speed while maintaining reliability through redundant drive units
Solution Approach 2:
By implementing transverse drives that move objects horizontally rather than vertically, the system eliminates the speed limitations of lifting mechanisms. The transverse belts can move objects laterally at high speed, achieving right-angled transfer without the slow vertical lifting process
3Force
If transverse drive belts with protruding teeth are used, then object engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive belts feature localized protruding teeth only in the regions where object engagement is required, rather than throughout the entire belt. This local quality approach provides strong engagement force where needed while keeping the rest of the belt simple and easy to manufacture, reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding teeth on the transverse drive belts act as intermediaries between the drive mechanism and the objects. These teeth provide the necessary engagement force to move objects without requiring complex direct mechanical coupling, simplifying the overall drive mechanism while maintaining strong object engagement
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
Facilitates faster sorting and higher throughput by redirecting objects orthogonally without the need for complex lifting mechanisms, improving reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the drive portion may be configured to apply a force to one or more objects... the force applied to one or more objects may be, at least partially, parallel to the at least one main roller axis of rotation
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the at least two parallel rollers may be configured to drive the first transverse drive belt... In some embodiments, at least one of the parallel rollers is a motorized roller
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses, systems, computing devices, and/or the like are provided. An example method may include a conveyor unit. An example conveyor unit may include a conveyor frame, a main drive connected to the frame, and a transverse drive connected to the frame. An example main drive may include at least one main roller. An example transverse drive may include at least one transverse drive belts with a drive portion and a bypass portion. An example conveyor system may include a first conveyor unit, a second conveyor unit, and a sensing system. The example method may include the sensing system detecting and determining the location of an object. The example method may also include a transverse drive applying a force to the object.