Rotatable Sleeve Conveyor Gate for Goods Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor gates are prone to damaging fragile goods and pose safety hazards due to their operation, and they lack flexibility in directing goods to multiple destinations, with limitations in elevation and unidirectional movement.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable gate with a rotatable sleeve that can be positioned to allow all or a fraction of goods to pass through or drop off, featuring a cage with sturdy flanges and spring-biased plunger assemblies to manage cyclic loads, enabling controlled movement and distribution of goods between conveyor portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a slide mechanism is used to open and close the gate, then the gate can control the movement of goods, but fragile goods may be damaged when the gate is moved from open to closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The gate transitions from a static slide mechanism to a dynamic rotatable sleeve that can rotate about a vertical axis. This allows the gate to adapt its position dynamically - rotating to open positions to allow goods passage or closing to block the conveyor run, while avoiding the damaging sliding motion that crushes fragile goods. The rotatable sleeve can be positioned at various angles to control goods flow without applying compressive forces.
2Extent of automation
If a powered slide mechanism is used to operate the gate, then the gate can be automated, but safety hazards arise because a closing gate may capture a finger or clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The automated gate operation is achieved through rotation rather than linear sliding motion. The rotatable sleeve rotates about a vertical axis, creating a circular motion path that naturally avoids capturing fingers or clothing in a pinch point. The rotational mechanism with its arcuate motion eliminates the dangerous linear closure path where body parts could be trapped, while still providing automated control capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If goods are dropped from the end of the gate or through the opening in the rotatable sleeve, then goods can be directed to a lower receiving conveyor run, but the receiving structure must be very close to the gate, resulting in unwanted crowding
Solution Approach 1:
The gate mechanism utilizes vertical rotation about a vertical axis to create horizontal discharge paths. By rotating the sleeve to different angular positions, goods can be discharged horizontally to the side rather than vertically downward close to the gate. This dimensional transformation of the discharge path allows receiving structures to be positioned farther away, reducing crowding in the area immediately beneath the gate while maintaining the ability to direct goods to multiple destinations.
4Ease of operation
If the gate is designed to drop goods near the gate structure, then the gate can control goods flow, but the loss of elevation limits flexibility for moving goods to multiple desired destinations
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable sleeve provides dynamic control of goods flow by rotating to different angular positions. This allows the gate to adapt to different operational requirements - rotating to open positions to allow goods passage to specific destinations, or closing to block the conveyor run. The rotational mechanism enables precise control over which goods pass through and which are blocked, providing flexibility for directing goods to multiple desired destinations while maintaining elevation control.
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 adjustable gate minimizes damage to goods, enhances safety by preventing accidents, and increases the flexibility of the conveyor system by allowing goods to be directed to multiple destinations with precise control over the fraction that passes through or drops off, reducing crowding and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring-biased plunger assembly disposed intermediate the rotatable sleeve and the conveyor first portion; a second spring-biased plunger assembly disposed intermediate the rotatable sleeve and the conveyor second portion
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A conveyor run (20) for moving goods to two or more destinations can be used to move a first fraction of the goods to a first destination and a second fraction of the goods to another destination. A differential impulse driver (24) coupled to a conveyor portion is reversible to enable the conveyor run to move goods in either direction along the conveyor run. An adjustable gate (10) includes a rotatable sleeve (16) with an opening (19) that is positionable relative to conveyor portions (31; 22; 30) between which the adjustable gate is connected. The rotatable sleeve (16) rotates relative to the adjacent conveyor portions to position the opening (19) to set the fraction of the goods that pass from an upstream conveyor portion to the downstream conveyor portion and to set the fraction of the goods that drop from the conveyor run through the opening.