Rotatable Transmission for Flexible Material Handling Paths

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mechanical transmissions have a fixed output orientation relative to the input orientation, which limits their ability to adapt to varying material handling systems that require flexible path directions for conveying articles, often resulting in interference and reduced component lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A transmission system with variable output orientation, where the output drive can rotate relative to the input drive, allowing for flexible path directions by using a rotatable housing configuration with a drive train that includes pinions and bevels, enabling output drives to be oriented in any direction up to 360 degrees without changing the article's orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fixed orientation transmissions are used, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the output orientation cannot be varied which limits adaptability to different material handling paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput orientation variabilityVSAvoidtransmission structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission system employs a rotatable housing that can dynamically change the output drive orientation relative to the input drive. The housing rotates about the input drive axis, allowing the output drive to be oriented in any direction up to 360 degrees while maintaining a relatively simple overall transmission structure based on conventional gear mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If conveying structures rotate beyond +/- 90 degrees, then path flexibility is improved, but interference between components occurs and component lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath direction flexibilityVSAvoidcomponent lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the output drive orientation by rotating the housing, which carries the output drive and associated components. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to achieve any orientation up to 360 degrees without the components interfering with each other, as the entire output assembly rotates as a unit rather than individual components articulating relative to each other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The output drive and its supporting structure are nested within the rotatable housing, which itself is nested within the fixed transmission housing. This nested arrangement allows the inner components to rotate together as a package, eliminating interference between components during rotation while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If variable output orientation is implemented, then adaptability to different paths is improved, but the transmission structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput orientation controlVSAvoidhousing and drive train complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 efficient and flexible article conveyance in material handling systems by allowing output drives to be oriented in any direction, reducing interference and extending component lifespan by maintaining aligned contact points during rotation.

Implementation Method 1

The drive train may include an input drive, a first pinion, a first bevel, a second bevel, a second pinion, and an output drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBevel gear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentUS9878851B1Pick and pass conveyor with fully rotatable transmissions

Publication Date: 2018.01.30 INTELLIGRATED HEADQUARTERS LLC

AI summary

A transmission for driving articles can drive the articles in any direction up to nearly 360 degrees from a first direction of motion of the article while maintaining the input constant. The transmissions can be used in connection with material handling systems to convey articles to desired locations. Conveyor sections may have a plurality of such transmissions whose orientations are controlled as a group or individually.