Segmented Distribution Conveyor for Flexible Product Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The food industry faces challenges in achieving high flexibility and performance in product distribution systems, with existing solutions often requiring significant effort to switch between distribution variants and experiencing undesired product twisting during transport.
Innovation Solution
A product distribution device featuring a foremost distribution conveyor divided into two independently drivable parts, with each part having multiple conveyor tracks, allowing for increased distribution options and asymmetrical distribution patterns, and additional conveyors that can be displaced transversely to adjust the format of the product flow without twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If products are transported at an angle to the conveying direction, then distribution flexibility is improved, but product twisting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The transport path is segmented into multiple sequential conveyor sections (first conveyor, second conveyor, third conveyor) arranged at different angles. Each section handles a specific angular displacement, breaking down the overall angular transport into manageable steps that prevent product twisting while achieving the desired distribution flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is designed with adjustable and independently controllable conveyor sections that can dynamically adjust their operation. The conveyors can be selectively activated or deactivated based on the desired distribution pattern, allowing the system to adapt to different distribution requirements without causing product twisting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple distribution conveyors are added to increase distribution variants, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each conveyor section is designed to perform multiple functions depending on its operation mode. The same physical conveyor infrastructure can achieve different distribution patterns by selectively activating specific conveyor sections and adjusting their speeds, eliminating the need for separate dedicated conveyors for each distribution variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically controllable conveyor sections with adjustable speeds and selective activation. By varying the operational state of each conveyor section, the system can generate multiple distribution variants from a single simplified infrastructure, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If products are transported in format sets, then distribution flexibility is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system maintains continuous product flow throughout the distribution process. Products are continuously fed onto the first conveyor and continuously transferred through the system, with no interruption or batch-based processing. This continuous operation ensures high productivity while achieving flexible distribution through angular transport and selective conveyor activation.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1g
Figure 2a~2h
Figure 3a~3h
AI summary
A device for distributing a stream of products (11) comprises an inlet conveyor (13) and an outlet conveyor (15), which are configured to convey the products (11) along a conveying direction (F) and which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. At least two distribution conveyors (17, 19, 21), which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction between the inlet conveyor (13) and the outlet conveyor (15) and which are each configured to convey the products (11) along the conveying direction (F), are independently displaceable transversely to the conveying direction.