Transferring Shuttle for Packaging Line Product Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant systems for feeding food products to packaging machines face challenges in efficiently transferring products at a right angle due to operating speeds and fragility, often causing damage and interference with conveyor movements.
Innovation Solution
A plant with an input conveyor and a dual transfer device comprising paddle elements and a shuttle, where the paddles are moved by independent motorized belt systems to minimize shocks and optimize the transfer of products from the input conveyor to a crosswise output conveyor, ensuring synchronized and controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If systems with paddles or movable barriers are used for transferring products, then the transfer operation can be performed, but the return movement of the paddles hinders or slows down the plant operation and interferes with conveyor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the transfer mechanism by using a overhead conveyor that moves products vertically between conveyors operating on different levels. This dimensional change allows the transfer to occur without the paddles needing to return horizontally, eliminating the time-consuming return movement and interference with conveyor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediate overhead conveyor system that acts as a mediator between the first and second conveyors. This intermediary vertical transfer mechanism enables product movement between conveyors without requiring the conveyors themselves to stop or slow down, maintaining continuous operation and high productivity.
2Productivity
If products are transferred at high speed, then productivity is improved, but the fragility of food products causes damage and powders during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs cushioning elements and controlled deceleration zones in the vertical transfer mechanism that prepare for and absorb impact forces before products reach high-speed transfer. The system gradually accelerates and decelerates products, preventing sudden shocks that would cause damage to fragile food items while maintaining high overall transfer speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses dynamically adjustable transfer mechanisms that can modify their speed and acceleration profiles based on product characteristics. The vertical conveyor can vary its operating parameters to match the fragility of different food products, enabling high-speed transfer of durable items and gentler handling of fragile items without compromising overall productivity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~5b
Figure 6a~8b
AI summary
A plant for feeding groups of food products in sequence to a packaging machine comprises a first input conveyor (11) and a second output conveyor (13) between which a device (16) for the synchronized transfer of groups of products is provided. The device (16) comprises a moving unit (17) of pairs of carrying paddles. The paddles enter a transversal translation shuttle (33, 133) for the synchronization with the output conveyor.