Tray Transport Pushers Align Trays Without Stopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tray transporting devices to sealing machines face reduced throughput due to the need for blocking bars to align trays, which temporarily stop movement, and require precise positioning for pusher systems to function effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method controlling a transporting device with a conveyor system and pushers that adjust speed and position to align trays without stopping, using a control device to manage the movement of trays between conveyors and a sliding region, ensuring reliable positioning without physical contact over the entire transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If blocking bars are used to align trays between conveyors, then tray positioning accuracy is improved, but throughput is reduced due to temporary stopping of tray movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the blocking bars moveable rather than fixed. The blocking bars can advance and retract along the conveyor, allowing trays to be positioned accurately when needed while eliminating stopping during normal operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling precision positioning without sacrificing continuous throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking bars perform preliminary positioning action on trays before they reach the sealing machine. By advancing the blocking bars in advance to the correct position, trays are pre-aligned during transport without requiring stopping at the sealing station, thus maintaining throughput while achieving positioning accuracy.
2Speed
If moveable pushers are used to transport trays along the sliding region, then transport speed is improved, but positioning precision is reduced requiring previous accurate positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking bars perform preliminary positioning of trays on the conveyor before the trays enter the sliding region. This pre-positioning ensures that when trays are pushed along the sliding region at high speed, they maintain accurate positioning without requiring continuous adjustment during high-speed transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking bars act as an intermediary between the conveyor and the sliding region, performing the positioning function before trays are transferred to the high-speed pusher system. This intermediary action allows the pushers to focus on high-speed transport while the blocking bars handle precision positioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed blocking bars are used between conveyors, then tray alignment is improved, but device complexity increases and throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking bars are designed to be moveable along the conveyor rather than fixed, allowing a single set of bars to serve multiple positioning functions. This dynamic design reduces the number of stationary components needed while improving alignment flexibility, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining or improving tray alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable blocking bars serve multiple functions: they align trays on the conveyor, maintain positioning during transfer to the sliding region, and can be repositioned for different tray sizes or configurations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate fixed alignment mechanisms, reducing device complexity while achieving comprehensive tray alignment.
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 approach increases throughput by eliminating the need for blocking bars and ensuring accurate alignment of trays while maintaining continuous movement, enhancing the efficiency of the tray sealing process.
Implementation Method 1
a friction coefficient of the second conveyor with respect to the trays is smaller than a friction coefficient of the first conveyor with respect to the trays
Implementation Method 2
a friction coefficient of the second conveyor with respect to the trays is smaller than a friction coefficient of the first conveyor with respect to the trays
Implementation Method 3
a leading pusher restricts movement of a tray along at least a portion of the second conveyor
Implementation Method 4
a trailing pusher moves the tray along at least a portion of the sliding region
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
A method for controlling a transporting device (100) for transporting trays (130) to a tray sealing machine (180), the transporting device (100) comprising a control device (190), a first conveyor (101), a second conveyor (102), a sliding region (103) and a pushing device (140) arranged along the second conveyor (102) and the sliding region (103) and comprising at least two pushers (141, 142) extending transversally to a transport direction of the trays (130) in the transporting device (100), wherein the method comprises controlling, by a control device (190) of the transport device (100), the first conveyor (101) to move at a first speed (V1), controlling the second conveyor (102) to move at a second speed (V2) and controlling the pushing device (140) so that the pushers (141, 142) move along the transport direction of the second conveyor (102) and, in transport direction, a leading pusher (141) restricts movement of a tray (130) along at least a portion of the second conveyor (102) and a trailing pusher (142) moves the tray along at least a portion of the sliding region (103).