Shielding System for Curved Conveyor Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
In treatment systems for vehicle bodies, materials or media falling or dripping from workpieces often contaminate the connecting passage between the conveying space and the driving space, especially in curved sections where the passage must be wider, leading to increased contamination of the conveyor system.
Innovation Solution
A shielding system with pivotable shielding elements or a rotating shielding ring is implemented, which can be spring-preloaded to cover the connecting passage and create passage windows for the transport carriages, ensuring effective protection against falling or dripping materials. The shielding elements can be mounted on a bearing device or an endless belt, and the rotating element can be motor-driven to align with the carriage's movement, with optional covers on the carriages to further protect the passage windows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the connecting passage is widened in curved sections to accommodate the connection device movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the contamination from falling materials increases
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding device is introduced as an intermediary element between the conveying space and driving space. This shielding device includes multiple shielding elements that can pivot to selectively block the connecting passage, preventing material contamination while allowing connection device movement when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed. Each shielding element can pivot between a shielding position (blocking the passage) and a retracted position (allowing passage), enabling dynamic adaptation to the operational requirements of the connection device while maintaining contamination protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shielding elements are added to prevent material contamination, then the protection against harmful factors is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding device is divided into multiple independent shielding elements rather than using a single large shield. Each element can operate independently and is mounted on individual bearing devices, allowing for modular construction and maintenance while providing comprehensive coverage of the connecting passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding elements are spring-preloaded and automatically pivot into the shielding position when not in use. The system uses the natural movement of the connection device to trigger the shielding action, reducing the need for complex control mechanisms while ensuring reliable protection.
3Ease of operation
If passage windows are created for transport carriages, then the ease of operation is improved, but the shielding effectiveness against falling materials is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The passage windows are dynamically created only when needed. The shielding elements pivot from a continuous shielding position to create individual passage windows as transport carriages approach, then return to the shielding position immediately after the carriage passes, minimizing exposure to falling materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding elements are positioned in advance to block the connecting passage before transport carriages arrive. As carriages approach, the shielding elements pivot to create passage windows at the precise moment needed, ensuring protection is maintained before and after the carriage passage.
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 shielding system reliably prevents materials from entering the driving space, maintaining the cleanliness of the conveyor technology and ensuring continuous operation by effectively sealing the connecting passage during carriage movement, even in curved sections.
Implementation Method 1
each shielding element is mounted so that it can pivot about a vertical pivot axis by means of a bearing device
Implementation Method 2
each shielding element is preferably pretensioned by means of its bearing device under spring pretension in the direction of the shielding position
Implementation Method 3
the shielding elements are attached to an endless belt, which rotates around at least two revolving rollers, each of which can be rotated about a vertical axis of rotation
Implementation Method 4
At least one of the revolving rollers can advantageously be driven by a motor
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 5
AI summary
A treatment system for processing workpieces (12), in particular for processing vehicle bodies (14), comprises a conveying system (34) with a plurality of transport carriages (42) by means of which the workpieces (12) can be conveyed on a conveying path (36) which includes one or more curved sections (40). Each transport carriage (42) comprises a chassis (52) and a fastening device (62) for at least one workpiece (12), which are coupled to each other by means of a connecting device (68). Along the conveying path (36) there is a travel space (88) for the chassis (52), which is connected upwards to a conveying space (38) by a connecting passage (96), such that the chassis (52) is movable in the travel space (88) and the fastening device (62) is carried in the conveying space (38), the connecting device (68) extending through the connecting passage (96).The connecting passage (96) has a curved path in the curved section (40). A shielding system (100) with a shielding device (102) is provided which covers the connecting passage (96) in a curved section (40), except for a movable passage window arrangement (104) for the connecting device (68) of the transport carriage (42), when the transport carriage (42) is located in the curved section (40).