Transfer Device Height Reduction via Nested Conveying Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional transfer devices have a higher overall height than other components of conveyor lines, making it difficult to integrate them into multistage conveyor systems.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device design with a main conveying unit and a sub conveying unit, both positioned in the same planar area, where the lifting and lowering mechanism includes a motor that lifts one unit above the other, and the motor is positioned to minimize overall height, with one unit being a roller conveyor and the other a belt conveyor, and the use of a geared motor and regulating units to reduce the device's height further.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional transfer device with lifting and lowering mechanism is used, then the conveying direction can be switched, but the overall height becomes higher than other conveyor line components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions both the main conveying unit and sub conveying unit in the same planar area rather than vertically stacking them. The lifting and lowering mechanism moves one unit above the other only during transfer operations, while during normal conveying both units operate at the same height level, effectively using the vertical dimension only when needed for direction switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub conveying unit is positioned within the planar area occupied by the main conveying unit, allowing one conveying unit to be effectively nested within the space of the other during non-operational states, minimizing the overall footprint and height of the transfer device.
2Length of stationary object
If the motor is positioned to minimize overall height, then the device height is reduced, but the motor must be precisely positioned to avoid interfering with conveying bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is positioned in a specific local area within the planar space where it does not interfere with the conveying bodies during their operational cycles. This precise local positioning allows the motor to be integrated into the structure without increasing overall height, while maintaining clear separation between the motor space and the conveying body movement paths.
Data Source
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AI summary
To develop a transfer device which has a lower overall height than that of a conventional technology. A transfer device (1) includes a main conveying unit (3) equipped with main conveying bodies (82), a sub conveying unit (2) equipped with sub conveying bodies (14), a lifting and lowering mechanism (4) which lifts and lowers the main conveying unit (3) and the sub conveying unit (2) such that the respective units (3 and 2) are located at different positions in the up-down direction, and a motor (5) which operates the lifting and lowering mechanism (4). A planar position of the motor (5) resides in a planar area overlapping with the main conveying bodies (82) and the sub conveying bodies (14). The position of the motor (5) in the height direction is set such that a part or the whole of the motor (5) is located above a height of a lower end of a rotational track or a traveling track of any one of the conveying bodies (82 and 14) in a lowered state of any one of the conveying units (3 and 2). This structure can reduce the overall height of the transfer device (1) in a state that the motor (5) is disposed within the transfer device (1).