Segmented Helical Conveyors for Tall Vertical Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveying systems with stacked endless conveyor belts face challenges in creating a tall helical transport path without using a single extremely long conveyor belt, and efficient transfer between conveyor belts is not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
A conveying system with parallel and adjacent conveyor belts having helical paths, including transfer regions and members for smooth product displacement, allowing products to be transferred between belts in a transverse direction, and incorporating features like J-shaped paths and lifting elements to minimize contact time and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a single extremely long conveyor belt is used to create a tall helical transport path, then the total helical transport path length is increased, but the conveyor belt length becomes excessively long causing increased wear and friction
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying system divides the total helical transport path into multiple separate conveyor belts (first conveyor belt, second conveyor belt, etc.), each with limited length. These segmented belts are stacked vertically and connected through transfer regions, allowing the system to achieve a tall helical transport path without requiring a single extremely long conveyor belt, thereby reducing wear and friction on individual belts
2Length of moving object
If multiple stacked conveyor belts are used to create a tall helical conveying system, then the conveyor belt length is reduced, but the complexity of transferring products between belts increases
Solution Approach 1:
Transfer members are introduced as intermediary elements in the transfer regions to facilitate smooth product displacement between adjacent conveyor belts. These transfer members enable efficient product transfer while maintaining system modularity, balancing the reduction in individual belt length with manageable transfer complexity
3Productivity
If conveyor belts run parallel and adjacent for product transfer, then product transfer efficiency is improved, but the space requirement and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belts are arranged in a vertical stack configuration rather than horizontal extension. By utilizing the vertical dimension, the system achieves efficient product transfer between belts through parallel and adjacent arrangement in the vertical direction, minimizing horizontal space requirements while maintaining high transfer efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying system has a lower end of a helical path of a conveying section of a first conveyor located at a lower level than a lower end of a helical path of a conveying section of a second conveyor. An upper end of the helical path of the conveying section of the second conveyor is located at a higher level than an upper end of the helical path of the conveying section of the first conveyor. The upper end of the helical path of the conveying section of the first conveyor is located between the lower end and the upper end of the helical path of the conveying section of the second conveyor. A transfer region is between the helical path lower end of the conveying section of the second conveyor and the helical path upper end of the conveying section of the first conveyor.