Sorting Carriage Power Sequencing for Stable Belt Conveyor Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sorting facilities face instability and excessive load on driving devices when all traveling carriages are actuated due to simultaneous power generation and distribution of driving forces, leading to insufficient force distribution and unstable carriage operation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves starting power generation by traveling carriages in a predetermined order after achieving constant speeds, using power generation devices on each carriage to drive belt conveyors sequentially, reducing simultaneous power generation and distributing driving forces more evenly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If all traveling carriages are actuated simultaneously and power generation devices are operated at the same time, then productivity is improved by having all carriages available for sorting, but the driving devices experience excessive load and cannot distribute driving force sufficiently, causing unstable operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting capacityVSAvoidstability of carriage operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power generation devices are operated in periodic sequences rather than simultaneously. The control device divides the plurality of power generation devices into multiple groups and operates each group in turn, creating a periodic action pattern that distributes the load on driving devices over time while maintaining overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If power generation devices are operated simultaneously to drive belt conveyors, then the sorting function is fully utilized, but the driving force necessary to run traveling carriages cannot be distributed sufficiently due to excessive load on driving devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebelt conveyor operationVSAvoiddriving force distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The control device segments the plurality of power generation devices into multiple groups and operates each group separately in sequential order. This segmentation allows the driving force to be distributed adequately to traveling carriages in each time slot while still enabling all belt conveyors to be driven across different time periods, maintaining overall sorting productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach stabilizes carriage operation by reducing the load on driving devices and ensures stable travel at predetermined speeds, shortening the time to achieve stable conveyance.

Implementation Method 1

The power generation device generates electric power by a rotary shaft fixed to the traveling wheels rotating by travelling of the traveling carriage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The traveling carriages each include a belt conveyor where an article can be placed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3848306B1Method for operating a sorting facility
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 DAIFUKU CO LTD
  • EP3848306B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3848306B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3848306B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Sorting facility 10 sorts an article 90 by a belt conveyor 23 provided on a traveling carriage 20 traveling along a conveyance path K. A plurality of traveling carriages 20 travel on the conveyance path K. Each of the plurality of traveling carriages 20 is provided with a power generation motor 32 generating electric power by traveling of the traveling carriage 20. The belt conveyor 23 provided on each of the plurality of traveling carriages 20 is driven in a predetermined position on the conveyance path K by the electric power generated by the power generation motor 32. The power generation motor 32 provided in each of the plurality of traveling carriages 20 starts generation of the electric power necessary to drive the belt conveyor 23 in order from the power generation motor 32 provided in the traveling carriage 20 scheduled to pass the predetermined position on the conveyance path K first, after the traveling carriages 20 are actuated and traveling speeds become a constant speed.