Rotational Conveyor Rotor with Direct Suction Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotational conveyor systems for lightweight articles, such as empty plastic bottles or containers, face high economic and maintenance costs due to the need for vacuum systems and complex constructions, including suction cups and box-like elements, which are not cost-effective for adapting to different bottle formats and handling larger articles.
Innovation Solution
A path changing rotational conveyor with a lightweight, easily installable rotor featuring a thin perimetric wall and large suction openings that connect directly to a stationary negative pressure chamber, allowing for efficient suction and handling of articles without the need for complex conduit systems or additional support elements, enabling quick adaptation to different formats and pitches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction cups with conduits and vacuum systems are used to hold lightweight articles, then the articles can be securely held and transported, but the installation and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction openings are integrated directly into the perimetric wall of the rotor, eliminating the need for separate suction cups and their associated conduits. This merging of functions reduces the number of components, simplifies the vacuum system requirements, and lowers both installation and maintenance costs while maintaining reliable holding capability through direct suction application.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the complex conduit system and suction cup assemblies from the rotor design. By taking out these unnecessary intermediate components and implementing suction openings directly in the perimetric wall, the system achieves the same holding function with significantly reduced complexity and cost.
2Reliability
If suction cups with conduits are provided for each receiving configuration, then each article can be individually held, but the construction of the rotor becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple suction openings are arranged in the perimetric wall to correspond with multiple receiving configurations, allowing each article to be individually held through direct suction in the wall itself. This eliminates the need for separate conduit systems for each position, merging the suction function directly into the rotor structure and significantly reducing construction complexity.
3Reliability
If box-like elements are added to each receiving configuration for suction, then lightweight articles can be held effectively, but the rotor construction becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the box-like elements from the rotor design and replaces them with simple suction openings directly in the perimetric wall. This extraction of unnecessary intermediate structures maintains effective suction capability while dramatically simplifying the rotor construction and reducing manufacturing costs.
4Strength
If a thick perimetric wall is used in the rotor, then structural strength is improved, but the rotor becomes heavier and more difficult to install and uninstall
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the thickness parameter of the perimetric wall to achieve the minimum necessary structural strength rather than using excessive thickness. This parameter optimization reduces the rotor weight and facilitates easier installation and uninstallation while maintaining adequate structural integrity for the application.
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 solution reduces installation and maintenance costs, simplifies the construction of the rotor, and allows for easy switching between different rotor configurations, making it economically viable and efficient for handling various article formats and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a suction source connected to said negative pressure chamber and suction means for applying a suction in each receiving configuration through suction openings in said perimetric wall, said suction being sufficient to hold by suction one of the lightweight articles against the receiving configuration
Data Source
AI summary
The path changing rotational conveyor for lightweight articles includes a rotor with receiving configurations distributed along its periphery to be coupled with the lightweight articles and a perimetric wall with a plurality of suction openings in correspondence with the receiving configurations; and a stationary negative pressure chamber defining a laterally open channel facing the perimetric wall of the rotor along a predetermined circumferential arc. The negative pressure chamber is partly delimited by the perimetric wall of the rotor and, when the rotor rotates, the suction openings are communicated directly with the negative pressure chamber along the predetermined circumferential arc. The rotor is connected to a rotation device and the chamber is communicated with a suction source.