Side-Drive Tray Conveyance for Stable Food Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveying apparatuses for food and drink, such as those in conveyor-belt sushi restaurants, face complexity and increased manufacturing costs due to the need for magnetic forces or linking members to transmit driving force, and often have a poor appearance with trenches in the conveying path.
Innovation Solution
A conveying apparatus with a conveyor driving portion positioned alongside the running path, using a running body linking portion to stabilize the running body without a running surface, allowing for stable operation and simplified structure, and featuring a drive unit that supports the running body horizontally via a linking member, eliminating the need for a running surface on the path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If magnetic force is used to transmit driving force from the drive chain to the trays, then the trays can be conveyed, but the transmitting mechanism becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the drive chain from beneath the conveying path and relocates it to the side of the running path. This eliminates the need for complex magnetic transmitting mechanisms or linking members passing through trenches, as the drive chain directly drives the running body via a side-mounted drive unit with a linking portion, simplifying both structure and manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a running body linking portion that directly connects the running body to the drive chain without requiring magnetic intermediaries or complex transmitting mechanisms. This direct linking approach simplifies the overall structure while maintaining effective force transmission
2Shape
If linking members are used to connect the drive chain and trays, then the trays can be driven, but a trench must be provided in the conveying path which makes the outward appearance poor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for trenches in the conveying path by relocating the drive chain to the side of the running path. The linking members are positioned laterally rather than passing through the conveying path, eliminating the aesthetic defect while maintaining the driving function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the drive chain from a vertical arrangement (beneath the path requiring trenches) to a lateral arrangement (side-mounted). This dimensional change allows linking members to connect without penetrating the conveying path, preserving its appearance while maintaining functionality
3Device complexity
If the drive chain is provided beneath the conveying path, then it can drive the trays, but magnetic force or linking members are required which complicates the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the drive chain from its conventional position beneath the conveying path and relocates it to the side of the running path. This repositioning eliminates the need for complex magnetic or linking mechanisms while maintaining reliable driving force transmission through a simplified direct connection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the drive chain on the side rather than beneath the path. This inversion simplifies the structure by allowing direct lateral connection to the running body, eliminating the need for complex intermediate transmitting mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance device uses a simple structure to cause a travel body on which food and drink are placed to travel stably. The conveyance device (10) causes the travel body (11) to travel and convey the food and drink that can be placed on the travel body (11). The conveyance device (10) has a conveyance drive section (13) provided along a travel path (12) on which the travel body (11) travels and also has a travel body connection section (14) connected to the travel body (11) and moving in the direction of travel of the travel body (11) by being driven by the conveyance drive section (13). The conveyance drive section (13) is placed on a side of the travel path (12).