Star Conveyor Interchangeable Adapter Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional star conveyors require replacement when container formats change, are cumbersome, and need guide walls, limiting their flexibility and storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A star conveyor with interchangeable adapter elements on gripping arms, allowing configuration changes without replacing the entire system, enabling the conveyance of various container types and sizes without guide walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional star conveyors use fixed accommodation recesses and guide walls, then containers can be conveyed, but the system requires replacement when container formats change
Solution Approach 1:
The star conveyor is divided into modular components: a base body and interchangeable adapter elements. Each adapter element can be detached and replaced to accommodate different container formats, eliminating the need to replace the entire star conveyor system.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body of the star conveyor is designed with universal compatibility to work with multiple types of adapter elements. This multi-functional design allows a single base body to convey various container formats by simply changing the adapter elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If star conveyors use two disk-like base bodies to avoid touching labels, then containers can be conveyed, but the structure becomes cumbersome and requires great storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The dual base body structure is replaced by a single base body that works with interchangeable adapter elements. This segmentation allows the system to maintain label-contact avoidance functionality while reducing the overall volume and storage space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a fixed dual-base-body structure, the system changes the configuration parameters by swapping adapter elements with different geometries suitable for different container types, achieving label avoidance without the cumbersome dual-base structure.
3Reliability
If star conveyors use guide walls to keep containers in recesses, then containers can be conveyed, but the system lacks flexibility for different container shapes and sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated guide wall structure is separated from the main body and replaced by interchangeable adapter elements that provide retention functionality. Each adapter element can be optimized for specific container shapes without requiring fixed guide walls that limit versatility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If gripping arms are made position-adjustable to handle different container heights, then container versatility improves, but the construction becomes complex and requires fine-tuning time
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable gripping arm mechanism is replaced by interchangeable adapter elements that come pre-configured for different container heights. This eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and fine-tuning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adjusting gripping arms during operation, the appropriate adapter element is selected and attached in advance based on the container dimensions. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
A star conveyor for containers which includes at least one supporting body which can move rotatably about a rotation axis, and supports peripherally a plurality of gripping devices, which are distributed around its rotation axis and are each adapted to retain a respective container to be conveyed; each one of the gripping devices includes at least one respective pair of gripping arms; at least one gripping arm of such pair of gripping arms includes a main body and at least one adapter element which is detachably attached to the main body and is interchangeable with at least one other adapter element of a different type, in order to vary the configuration of the at least one gripping arm according to the type of container to be conveyed.