Rotatable Pallet for Conveyor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems face challenges with alignment and stability, particularly when handling top-heavy or off-center products, leading to potential product damage and system shutdowns due to mis-alignment and radial forces during acceleration, deceleration, and curved sections.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning conveyor system pallet with a rotatable post connected to a support plate, featuring a cylindrical bearing and a self-lubricating annular wear surface, allows for free rotation along a vertical axis, ensuring stable transport by adjusting its position relative to other pallets, especially around curved sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional simple platform pallets are used, then the device complexity is low, but the stability of the product during acceleration, deceleration, and curved sections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by introducing a rotatable post mechanism that allows the pallet to dynamically adjust its orientation during conveyance. The post can rotate to accommodate curved sections and maintain product stability during acceleration and deceleration, transforming a static simple platform into a dynamic adaptive structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet is segmented into distinct functional components: a base platform, a rotatable post, and mounting fixtures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while contributing to overall system stability, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional fixed-position pallets are used, then the alignment precision is maintained, but the adaptability to curved sections and varying speeds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable post introduces dynamic adaptability while maintaining alignment precision through controlled rotation. The mechanism allows the pallet to adjust its position on curved sections and during speed variations, preventing misalignment jams while preserving precise positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the orientation parameter of the pallet through post rotation, enabling adaptation to curved sections and varying conveyance conditions. This parameter change allows the pallet to maintain proper alignment while responding to dynamic track conditions.
3Ease of operation
If top-heavy or off-center products are conveyed on conventional pallets, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the reliability of the conveyance system deteriorates due to potential toppling and dislodgement
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable post acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that can adjust to offset the center of gravity of top-heavy or off-center products. By rotating to appropriate angles, the post provides stabilizing moments that prevent toppling, thereby maintaining conveyance reliability without complicating the loading operation.
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
The system ensures reliable, cost-effective, and repeatable conveyance of products through automated assembly lines, maintaining product stability and preventing jamming, thereby reducing the risk of product damage and system downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The post is rotatably connected to the upper surface using a cylindrical bearing
Implementation Method 2
The wear surface is self lubricating
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure is directed at a system for conveying apparatus over a conveyor belt assembly. The system includes a set of pallets which support the apparatus and travel within parallel driving conveyors of the conveyor belt assembly. While the pallets in both driving conveyors are capable of rotation, only the pallets in one of the driving conveyors may move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel so that the apparatus may be centred over the conveyor belt assembly when the pallets are in motion.