Tilting Conveyor Side Guides That Yield Under Tray Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional conveying and sorting apparatuses, tilting conveyor units face issues with varying tray speeds due to contact with side guides, leading to potential collisions and damage when switching between orientations, especially at higher conveying speeds.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features side guides that are designed to be openable outward when a certain load is applied, using an orientation holding mechanism that allows the side guides to absorb impact by breaking under excessive force, preventing deformation or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveying speed of the tray is increased to improve productivity, then the sorting operation becomes more efficient, but the variations in traveling speed of the tray increase leading to collision accidents between the side guide and tray corner
Solution Approach 1:
The side guide is designed with a movable structure that can yield outward upon impact from the tray corner. This beforehand cushioning mechanism absorbs the collision energy that occurs at high conveying speeds, preventing the rigid impact that would otherwise cause damage to either the side guide or tray corner, thus maintaining operational reliability while allowing high productivity
2Strength
If the side guide is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the conveying path width regulation is precise, but the side guide collides with the tray corner causing deformation or damage at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The side guide transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic movable structure. It remains rigid during normal operation to maintain precise conveying path width regulation, but can move outward when subjected to impact forces from tray corners at high speeds. This dynamic behavior eliminates collision damage while preserving structural strength for normal functioning
3Productivity
If the tilting conveyor unit switches quickly to the tilted orientation to maintain continuous conveying, then the sorting operation is efficient, but the tray experiences speed variations due to contact with the side guide
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side guide structure provides beforehand cushioning for the tray during orientation switching. When the tilting conveyor unit switches to tilted orientation, the tray may contact the side guide; the movable structure absorbs this impact energy, preventing speed variations and maintaining stable tray traveling speed throughout the sorting operation, thus preserving both productivity and speed stability
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 configuration effectively absorbs the impact from tray collisions, preventing side guide deformation and tray corner damage during the switching process, ensuring safe and reliable operation even at higher conveying speeds.
Implementation Method 1
tilted orientation for discharging the conveyed object laterally with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyed object by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A conveying and sorting apparatus has a plurality of tilting conveyor units in the conveying direction. Each tilting conveyor unit is able to swing to the left and right about a support shaft, between a horizontal conveying orientation and a tilted orientation for ejecting objects being conveyed by means of gravity. Both side edges in the left and right swinging direction are provided with side guides which restrict the width of the conveying path, and at least the side guide on the side to which the conveyor unit swings in the tilted orientation, is supported so as to be able to open in the swinging direction towards the tilted orientation with respect to the structure of the tilting conveyor unit, and is held in a standing orientation by the orientation holding means until a certain load or more is applied in to said side guide in the opening direction.