Single-Belt Pallet Conveyor Layout for Reliable Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pallet conveying apparatuses require separate circulation belts and drive means for conveying and returning pallets, leading to increased manufacturing costs and apparatus size due to the need for multiple belts and drives.
Innovation Solution
A pallet conveying apparatus with a dual-guide rail system where a single circulation belt engages with recesses and projections on the pallets, allowing for bidirectional movement without a separate return belt, utilizing servo motors and pulley systems to circulate the belt and move pallets between guide rails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate circulation belts are provided for conveying and returning pallets, then reliable pallet circulation is achieved, but the apparatus size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conveying and returning functions into a single circulation belt system. The single belt performs both functions by having pallets engaged with the belt during conveying, then automatically transferred to a return section where they are returned without requiring a separate return belt. This consolidation reduces the number of belts from two to one, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation belt is designed to serve multiple functions: it conveys pallets during processing, automatically transfers them at the endpoints, and returns them to the starting position. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated separate belts for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable circulation through a single integrated component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate drive means are provided for each circulation belt, then independent control is achieved, but the apparatus size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the drive functions into a single drive mechanism that controls the single circulation belt. Instead of having separate motors and drive systems for conveying and returning belts, one drive system manages the entire circulation cycle, reducing the number of drive means from two to one while maintaining the ability to control pallet flow through the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The single drive mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: driving the belt during conveying, controlling the transfer at endpoints, and managing the return cycle. This universal drive system replaces multiple specialized drives, reducing complexity while preserving independent control capability through intelligent control of the single belt's motion cycles.
3Ease of operation
If multiple circulation belts are used, then pallet conveying and returning functions are fulfilled, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conveying and returning functions into a single circulation belt system, reducing the total number of belts from two to one. This directly reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need to produce, install, and maintain a second belt, while still fulfilling both conveying and returning operations through the single integrated belt's cyclic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single circulation belt is designed to perform multiple functions (conveying, transferring, and returning) that previously required separate dedicated belts. This multi-functional design reduces manufacturing costs by requiring only one belt instead of two, while maintaining full operational capability through the belt's ability to serve multiple purposes in different phases of the circulation cycle.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a pallet conveying apparatus including a first and a second guide rails separated in a vertical direction, the first and second guide rails being configured such that a pallet is movably mountable thereon, and a third and a fourth guide rails separated in the vertical direction to be respectively parallel with them, the third and fourth guide rails being configured such that the pallet is movably mountable thereon. The pallet conveying apparatus includes an endless first and second circulation belts provided along the first and second guide rails and the third and fourth guide rails, recesses and projections engageable with the pallet being formed on one principal surface thereof. The pallet is engaged with an upper side of the first or second circulation belt when moving along the first or third guide rail provided on a vertically upper side while being engaged with a lower side of the first or second circulation belt when moving along the second or fourth guide rail provided on a vertical lower side.