Sliding Gate Bulk Conveyor Opening for Jam-Free Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor systems for bulk products face issues with product damage and uneven distribution among side flows due to sticking and jamming at gates, leading to frequent cleaning and quality reduction.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with slidably movable gates along the opening, primarily at the height of the first side wall, reduces the risk of product damage and improves distribution by allowing bulk products to pass smoothly through the opening, minimizing buffer needs and preventing jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gates are used to control flow distribution among side flows, then flow regulation capability is improved, but product damage and jamming increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the gate move horizontally across the opening (which causes product to stick and jam), the gate moves vertically along the opening. This inversion of the movement direction allows the gate to slide smoothly without trapping products between the gate and conveying element, thereby maintaining flow regulation capability while preventing product damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a sliding mechanism as an intermediary between the gate and the opening. The gate slides along the opening rather than moving directly across it, creating a smooth transition that prevents products from becoming stuck. This intermediary motion mechanism resolves the conflict between flow control and product integrity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple openings are used to serve multiple packaging lines, then distribution capability is improved, but uneven flow distribution occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically adjustable gates at each opening that can be independently controlled. Each gate can be opened or closed based on real-time flow conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying demands of different packaging lines. This dynamic control ensures uniform flow distribution across multiple side flows while maintaining the capability to serve multiple packaging lines
3Stability of the object's composition
If large buffers are used to prevent empty openings, then flow continuity is improved, but product damage and entanglement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the buffer component from the system entirely. Instead of using large buffers that cause product entanglement and damage, the system relies on the sliding gate mechanism to control flow directly at the openings. This extraction eliminates the source of product damage while maintaining flow continuity through precise gate control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical buffer system with a sliding gate control system. Rather than relying on physical buffers to regulate flow, the system uses the sliding motion of gates along openings to control product flow. This substitution eliminates the entanglement and damage issues associated with buffers while maintaining flow stability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a conveyor system including a conveying element with one or more bottoms and upright side walls, where the bottoms and the upright side walls together form a trough in which bulk products may be transported along a main flow, where the conveying element includes one or more openings through which bulk products may be poured, where the conveyor system includes a gate for closing a particular opening, where this gate may be moved between at least a closed position and an open position, where the one or more openings extend on the side walls, and where the gate may be moved slidably along the specified opening.