Transport Chute Drive Means for Layer Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In automated sorting systems, transport slides used as memory for goods face congestion and damage due to uneven surfaces and back pressure, leading to inefficient storage and discharge challenges.
Innovation Solution
A transport slide with an inclined surface and a controllable drive means opposite to the fall direction allows for denser layer formation and reduced back pressure, enabling efficient storage and discharge by using detectors for non-contact detection and control of the drive mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If goods are conveyed passively or actively on the slide surface in the fall direction, then the lowest layer forms tightly packed without too many vacancies, but more goods wedge unfavorably with the goods of the lowest layer and damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing goods to passively slide or be actively conveyed in the fall direction, the patent inverts the approach by using a moveable interrupt that actively prevents goods from entering the slip point until the lowest layer is properly formed. This reversal of the conventional passive conveyance method eliminates wedging damage while maintaining tight packing.
Solution Approach 2:
The interrupt is designed to be moveable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. During the filling phase, the interrupt moves to block the slip point and prevent goods from wedging. Once the lowest layer is formed, the interrupt moves away to allow controlled discharge. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between preventing damage and enabling efficient storage.
2Quantity of substance
If the slide surface is interrupted to form multiple layers of goods, then storage capacity increases, but back pressure accumulates that compresses goods and causes damage
Solution Approach 1:
The interrupt is made moveable to dynamically control the formation of the lowest layer. By positioning the interrupt to allow only one layer to form before blocking further passage, the system prevents excessive back pressure accumulation while still enabling multi-layer storage capacity. The moveable nature allows the system to adapt pressure management to the current filling state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the moveable interrupt to preliminarily control and regulate the formation process of the lowest layer before allowing subsequent layers to accumulate. This preliminary action ensures that goods are properly positioned and distributed before additional layers are added, preventing excessive compression and back pressure buildup during the storage process.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a drive means is integrated into the slide surface to brake goods, then damage to goods is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive means from the slide surface and replaces it with a moveable interrupt mechanism. Instead of integrating complex drive systems into the slide surface to control goods movement, the solution uses a simpler moveable interrupt that passively controls the formation and discharge of goods layers, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining damage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable interrupt system allows the transport slide to self-regulate the formation and discharge of goods layers without requiring complex active drive means. The interrupt automatically positions itself to control the process based on the filling state, enabling the system to manage goods flow and prevent damage through self-service rather than complex external control mechanisms.
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 solution enhances the filling capacity and facilitates the discharge of superimposed goods, reducing damage and optimizing the use of storage volume by controlling the drive mechanism to manage back pressure and layer formation.
Implementation Method 1
The slip portion 6 has an inclined slide surface 8, with a fall direction 10 along the slide surface 8
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention discloses a transport chute (2) suitable for use as a store for articles (4) that are able to be laid one on top of another, in particular packages and items of luggage; comprising: a) a chute portion (6) which has an inclined chute surface with a dropping direction (10) along the chute surface (8); b) wherein said chute portion (6) is interrupted by means of at least one interruption (12) such that the chute surface (8) is subdivided into at least an upper chute surface (8b) and a lower chute surface (8a); c) wherein said interruption (12) is configured to make it easier to form at least two layers of articles (4) lying one on top of another below the interruption (12); and d) wherein at least the lower chute surface (8a) also comprises at least one drive means (14a), which is drivable and actuable counter to the dropping direction (10), for transporting the articles (4), the articles (4) of the bottommost layer being able to rest at least in part on said drive means (14a) in order to be transported. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method.