Time-Staggered Longitudinal Conveyor Control for Egg Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor arrangements for egg collection and processing face issues such as discontinuous egg supply, uneven capacity utilization, egg damage, and increased processing times due to the spatial arrangement of longitudinal and transverse conveyor belts, leading to inefficiencies and higher operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor arrangement with a control device that detects the conveying progress of the transverse conveyor belt and adjusts the activation and speed of longitudinal conveyor belts to ensure continuous and optimized egg supply, utilizing the capacity of the processing station by coordinating the start and stop times of longitudinal conveyor belts based on their junction with the transverse belt and conveying progress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If several longitudinal conveyor belts are activated at the same time to supply sufficient eggs to the processing station, then the continuous supply of eggs is improved, but the cross conveyor belt capacity is locally exceeded leading to egg damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control device activates longitudinal conveyor belts in a time-staggered sequence rather than simultaneously. The first conveyor belt is activated, then the second after a time delay, and so on, ensuring that eggs are supplied to the transverse conveyor belt in a controlled manner that prevents local capacity exceedance and egg damage while maintaining continuous supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation timing of longitudinal conveyor belts based on real-time monitoring of the transverse conveyor belt's conveying progress. The control device continuously adapts the start times of subsequent conveyor belts to optimize egg flow and prevent overload at any given location on the transverse belt.
2Productivity
If the cross conveyor belt is activated frequently to handle egg accumulation, then egg collection is improved, but wear and premature failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-activates longitudinal conveyor belts in a time-staggered sequence before the transverse conveyor belt becomes overloaded. By anticipating egg accumulation and activating conveyors in advance in a controlled sequence, the system reduces the need for frequent emergency activation of the transverse conveyor belt, thereby reducing wear and extending its operational life.
3Speed
If longitudinal conveyor belts are activated simultaneously to maximize egg collection, then collection speed is improved, but egg damage from displacement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control device activates longitudinal conveyor belts in a time-staggered sequence, with each subsequent belt activated after the previous one has begun conveying eggs onto the transverse belt. This preliminary sequential activation ensures that eggs are added to the transverse conveyor belt in a controlled manner, preventing displacement and damage while maintaining high collection speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the activation timing of each longitudinal conveyor belt based on the real-time state of the transverse conveyor belt. The control device monitors the conveying progress and adjusts the start times of subsequent belts to optimize the flow of eggs, preventing displacement damage while maximizing collection efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
Conveyor arrangement comprising a transverse conveyor belt (10) which conveys products to a processing station, and several longitudinal conveyor belts (11a-d, 12a-d) which are arranged to convey products onto the transverse conveyor belt at different, spaced-apart locations, as well as a device for detecting the conveying progress of the transverse conveyor belt and a control device (30) coupled to this device, which is designed to start the longitudinal conveyor belts at the beginning of a conveying process of the conveyor arrangement with a time delay depending on the distance between their entry onto the transverse conveyor belt and the processing station and depending on the conveying progress of the transverse conveyor belt.