Multi-Directional Roller Assembly for High-Angle Article Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor systems face limitations in diverting articles at angles greater than 30° due to roller slippage on planar bearing surfaces, and the use of actuating rollers increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A multi-directional roller assembly with a rotatable frame and transverse rollers that mutually actuate, allowing for a wide range of diversion angles through controlled rotation and orientation of the frame and rollers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If oblique rollers are arranged at angles greater than 30° on a planar bearing surface, then sharper article-diversion trajectories are achieved, but the rollers slip excessively on the planar surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the planar bearing surface with a curved bearing surface that has a radius of curvature. This curvature allows oblique rollers to be arranged at angles greater than 30° (up to 60° or more) while maintaining adequate contact with the bearing surface, thereby preventing excessive slippage. The curved surface geometry ensures that the rollers remain properly engaged with the bearing surface even at steep diversion angles, resolving the contradiction between achieving sharp trajectories and preventing roller slippage.
2Manufacturing precision
If actuating rollers are used to reduce slip and accommodate greater roller angles, then diversion accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a curved bearing surface instead of actuating rollers to achieve the desired diversion accuracy. The curvature of the bearing surface passively guides the oblique rollers to maintain proper contact and orientation, eliminating the need for complex actuating roller mechanisms. This approach maintains high diversion precision while significantly reducing device complexity and cost compared to systems that use actuating rollers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple roller sets are used to expand diversion angle ranges, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bearing surface enables a single set of oblique rollers to achieve a wide range of diversion angles (greater than 30°, up to 60° or more) by utilizing the geometric properties of the curved surface. This eliminates the need for multiple roller sets or complex switching mechanisms, thereby expanding the diversion angle range while keeping the device configuration simple and manageable.
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
Enables articles to be redirected at any desired angle, providing versatile trajectory manipulation with reduced slip and lower complexity compared to existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The contact between the rollers and the bearing surfaces causes the rollers to rotate as the belt advances.
Implementation Method 2
The rotation of the oblique rollers pushes articles atop the rollers across the conveyor belt toward a side of the conveyor.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4
AI summary
A multi-directional roller assembly (10) for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly (10) has a rotatable roller frame (12) housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers (28). The multi-directional roller assembly (10) directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly (10) relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly (10) may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies (10). An actuator (340) controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies (10) individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies (10) as a group.