Rotatable Carrier Bag Conveyor for Space-Saving Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor installations face challenges in arranging carrier bags in a space-saving manner while ensuring easy access for loading and unloading, as existing systems often require significant space between bags and complex mechanisms for opening and closing loading openings.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor installation features carrier bags with a support frame and a pressure piece that rotates to change the orientation of the loading opening from transverse to parallel with the transport direction, allowing for closer bag placement and easy loading/unloading, utilizing a stationary transport rail and sliding surface to pivot the bags between transport and loading positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If carrier bags are arranged close together with larger width transverse to transport direction, then space utilization is improved, but access for loading and unloading becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame is made rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing the carrier bag to dynamically change its orientation between transport position (width transverse to transport direction) and loading position (width parallel to transport direction). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling close spacing during transport while providing easy access during loading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces rotation about a vertical axis, adding a rotational degree of freedom to the system. This allows the carrier bag to switch between two operational modes: close-packed transport configuration and access-friendly loading configuration, effectively resolving the spatial conflict between these two requirements.
2Stability of the object's composition
If support frame is kept horizontal during transport, then carrier bag stability is improved, but loading opening access becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame transitions from a static horizontal orientation during transport to a rotatable configuration during loading. The frame can be rotated about a vertical axis to bring the loading opening into a convenient position for access, while maintaining stability during transport through its horizontal orientation.
3Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used to open and close loading openings, then loading/unloading functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame's rotation about a vertical axis enables the loading opening to be brought into position for access without requiring complex opening/closing mechanisms. The system uses the rotational movement itself to provide access, eliminating the need for additional complex mechanisms dedicated to opening and closing the loading opening.
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
This configuration enables a higher loading capacity by allowing carrier bags to be positioned closely together during transport while ensuring easy and efficient loading and unloading, with the loading opening automatically opening and closing as needed.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure piece which is parallel to the front wall and to the rear wall; a loading station which comprises a sliding surface which is arranged below and parallel to the transport rail
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor installation comprises carrier bags for material to be transported, wherein the carrier bags are suspended from carrier dogs which are moved in a transport rail in a transport direction. At a loading and unloading station, the carrier bags are rotatable from their transport position, which is transverse to the transport direction, into a position which points in the transport direction, wherein an upper loading opening is opened at the same time. Backwards rotation of the carrier bags is caused by the force of gravity.