Sorting Conveyor Dual Carrier Tray Single Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting conveyors with double trays require significant design effort due to the need for two independent, controllable release actuation devices to tilt the trays independently, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A sorting conveyor design where a single controllable release actuation device is used to control both tray parts, with a separating means allowing for independent tilting of each tray part, enabling either tray to be released while the other is held in place, reducing the need for multiple motors and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two independent, individually controllable release actuation devices are used to tilt the trays independently, then the sorting performance is increased, but the design effort and device complexity increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The double tray is segmented into a first tray part and a second tray part separated by a separating means (partition wall). This segmentation allows each tray part to be independently tilted while sharing a single actuation device, resolving the contradiction between independent control capability and reduced device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control function of two separate actuation devices into a single release actuation device that can selectively tilt either the first or second tray part. This combining reduces the number of actuators from two to one while maintaining independent tilting capability through the separating means
2Adaptability or versatility
If two independent, individually controllable release actuation devices are used, then each tray can be tilted independently, but the number of components and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single release actuation device is designed with multi-functionality to perform multiple roles: it can tilt the first tray part, tilt the second tray part, or hold both in position. This universal actuator replaces two specialized actuators, reducing component count while maintaining independent tilting versatility through its interaction with the separating means
Data Source
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AI summary
A sorting conveyor comprises carriages which can be movably controlled along a conveyor track (4), wherein each carriage supports a dual carrying tray (8) comprising a first carrying tray part (8a) for receiving a first object and a second carrying tray part (8b) for receiving a second object. Said conveyor is characterized in that: the first carrying tray part (8a) is separated from the second carrying tray part (8b), particularly by a dividing means (9a, b); the first carrying tray part (8a) is mounted in a movable fashion, particularly in a tiltable fashion, relative to the carriage in order to perform a distributing motion by which the first object can be distributed while the second object is prevented from being distributed, particularly by the dividing means (9a, b); and the second carrying tray part (8b) is mounted in a movable fashion, particularly in a tiltable fashion, relative to the carriage in order to perform a distributing motion by which the second object can be distributed while the first object is prevented from being distributed, particularly by the dividing means (9a, b). Each carriage has a single distribution actuating device (28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 44, 52) which can be driven in a controlled manner and which is associated with the dual carrying tray (8). Said distribution actuating device can be brought into either a first or a second, opposite distributing position, wherein the distribution actuating device (28) brings about a distributing motion of the first carrying tray part (8a) when actuated into the first distributing position and a distributing motion of the second carrying tray part (8b) when actuated into the second distributing position.