Segmented Conveyor Support Elements for Container Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container sterilization apparatuses require complex and costly operations to change conveyor formats for different container shapes and sizes, leading to inefficiencies in conveying capacity and stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A transport group with a conveyor belt and support elements featuring V-shaped seats and inclined plates, allowing for versatile accommodation of containers of varying sizes without the need for format changes, ensuring stability and efficient use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the conveyor is designed to transport the bulkiest containers with partitions corresponding to their size, then container stability is improved, but the conveyance surface is underutilized when transporting smaller containers
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple support elements, each independently capable of supporting containers. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of containers of different sizes on the same conveyor without requiring fixed partitions for each container type, thereby maximizing surface utilization while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements are designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed. This dynamic configuration allows the conveyor to adapt its structure to accommodate different container sizes and shapes, optimizing both stability and space utilization for various container types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyor format is changed to accommodate different container shapes and sizes, then versatility is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements are designed with universal functionality to accommodate multiple container types through a single standardized design. Each support element can adapt to different container dimensions and shapes without requiring format changes, simplifying operations while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements can change their physical parameters (position, orientation, configuration) to adapt to different container types. This parameter adjustment capability allows the conveyor to handle diverse containers without complex format changes, reducing operational complexity.
3Productivity
If the conveyor is designed for small containers, then space utilization is improved, but stability problems arise for larger containers
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor is divided into multiple independent support elements that can be individually positioned and configured. This segmentation allows each support element to be optimally sized and positioned for the specific container it carries, ensuring stability for large containers while maintaining high space utilization through efficient arrangement.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transport group (1) for container (A) sterilization apparatuses comprises a conveyor belt (2), which defines an operational plane and advances along an advancement direction, and a plurality of support elements (3), mutually separated, and integral and movable with the conveyor belt (2), each support element (3) having longitudinal development, transverse to the advancement direction and lying along a direction parallel to the operational plane; each support element (3) defines a plurality of shaped seats (4) arranged along the longitudinal development, each shaped seat (4) being adapted to temporarily house a respective container (A).