Compact Sensor Transport Section for Beverage Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport systems for articles like beverage containers have complex structures and large dimensions due to the need for a large holding structure for sensors, resulting in a wide relative distance between guide rails and increased complexity in the actuating mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A compact transport section design with a guide element forming an aisle, featuring a contact element mounted via an adjustment mechanism that can be shifted into a working position to actuate a sensor, reducing the risk of damage to articles and allowing for a more compact structure by using a tapered or obliquely positioned contact element made of plastic, and incorporating a spring mechanism for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large holding structure for sensor system is attached to guide rail, then sensor can detect articles effectively, but the relative distance between adjacent guide rails must be kept large and the mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into modular sensor units that can be independently mounted on guide rails. Each sensor unit is a separate, compact component rather than a large integrated holding structure, allowing flexible placement and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor units are mounted in a distributed manner along the guide rail in multiple positions rather than requiring a single large holding structure. This spatial distribution across different dimensions allows effective detection while maintaining compact guide rail spacing.
2Reliability
If a large holding structure for sensor system is attached to guide rail, then sensor can detect articles effectively, but the relative distance between adjacent guide rails must be kept large
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple small sensor units distributed along the guide rail, replacing a single large holding structure. This allows the guide rails to be placed closer together while maintaining adequate detection coverage through the distributed sensor arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring large spacing in the horizontal dimension between guide rails, the sensor units are distributed along the length of the guide rail in the longitudinal dimension, achieving effective detection with compact guide rail spacing.
3Reliability
If contact element is positioned to protrude into aisle for reliable detection, then sensor actuation is effective, but risk of damage to articles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is designed as a dynamic component that can move or deform upon contact with articles. This dynamic behavior allows the contact element to detect articles reliably through movement-triggered sensor actuation while minimizing damage by absorbing impact through its own motion rather than transferring full force to the article.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element's physical parameters such as material hardness, elasticity, or geometric shape are optimized to provide sufficient contact for sensor actuation while reducing the force transmitted to articles. This parameter optimization enables reliable detection with minimal article damage risk.
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 enables efficient detection of articles with a simple and compact transport section structure, allowing for precise positioning and reduced risk of damage, while maintaining effective sensor actuation for timely handling and processing.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a spring mechanism for precise movement
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for the sensorial detection of articles is disclosed. In this method, a plurality of articles are conveyed via a transport device (20) in at least one aisle (G). During conveying, articles successively displace at least one contact element (15, 15') arranged in the area of the aisle (G), which is mounted at least one predefined mounting position (BP, BP') of a support (35) via an adjustment mechanism (30, 30'). At least one sensor (40, 40') is actuated by the respective displacement of the at least one contact element (15, 15'). The at least one contact element (15, 15') is guided by the adjustment mechanism (30, 30') with a directional component at each displacement, along which directional component the plurality of articles are conveyed via the transport device (20) in the aisle (G).