Segmented Conveyor Layout for Small Item Separation and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems for piece goods, particularly those designed for larger items, fail to efficiently separate and align smaller items due to their fixed design, leading to incorrect sorting and increased space requirements for additional conveyors to manage smaller dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with segments arranged offset to the main conveying direction, allowing individual control of conveyor belts to separate and rotate piece goods by transferring them to different conveyors, utilizing sensors to detect position and orientation for efficient manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conveyors are arranged directly one behind the other in a line, then the conveyor system is simple in structure, but smaller piece goods cannot be separated and always remain together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging conveying means in a two-dimensional grid pattern rather than a single linear sequence. Conveying means are arranged in rows and columns, allowing piece goods to be transferred from one conveyor to adjacent conveyors in the same row or to conveyors in subsequent rows, enabling separation without increasing system length.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is segmented into multiple independently controllable conveying means arranged in a grid. Each conveying means can be controlled individually, allowing selective acceleration or deceleration of specific segments to separate piece goods that are initially positioned on the same conveyor.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional conveyors are installed after the singulator to separate parallel shipments, then separation capability is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a two-dimensional arrangement of conveying means where separation occurs laterally within the existing conveyor width rather than requiring additional conveyors placed sequentially along the main transport direction. This allows parallel shipments to be separated by transferring them to different columns of conveying means.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conveyors are controlled individually, then flexibility in manipulating piece goods is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to universally control all conveying means in the grid arrangement using a standardized control interface. The same control unit can manipulate piece goods in various ways - separating parallel shipments, rotating items, or adjusting positions - by coordinating the speeds of different conveying means, providing multiple functions through a single control system.
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conveyor system (2) and a method for transporting piece goods (4), in particular mail items, along a main conveying direction (6), comprising a control unit (14) and a conveying route (8). The conveyor section (8) comprises segments (10) which are arranged one behind the other along the main conveying direction (6). The segments (10) comprise conveying means (12) arranged essentially parallel to one another, for example conveyor belts, which are designed to transport the piece goods (4) along the main conveying direction (6). The conveying means (12) can be driven individually and controlled individually by the control unit (14) and the segments (10) are arranged offset from one another transversely to the main conveying direction (6).