Vacuum Conveyor Belt Suction Chambers for Sheet Goods Handling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conveying devices for sheet goods face limitations in generating sufficient negative pressure holding areas, leading to inefficient conveyance and increased complexity in design and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of conveyor belts with additional negative pressure holding areas, where suction chambers on the contact face are in fluid communication with negative pressure holding means through transverse openings, enhancing the negative pressure holding capacity and simplifying the design for easier cleaning and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If conventional conveyor belts without suction chambers are used, then the design is simple, but the negative pressure holding area is insufficient for efficient conveyance
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple suction chambers distributed along its length, each chamber independently contributing to the negative pressure holding area. This segmentation allows the system to achieve a large total holding area while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor belt serves multiple functions: it acts as both a structural support element and an active negative pressure generation surface through the suction chambers. This multi-functionality increases the effective holding area without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Reliability
If conveyor belts with complex structures are used to increase holding area, then negative pressure holding capacity improves, but maintenance time and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction chambers are designed as separate, modular segments along the conveyor belt, allowing individual chambers to be accessed, inspected, and maintained without disrupting the entire belt system. This modular segmentation improves reliability while facilitating easier maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The suction chambers are designed as extractable components that can be removed from the conveyor belt for separate maintenance or replacement. This extraction capability allows maintenance personnel to service individual chambers without dismantling the entire conveyor system, reducing maintenance time and improving ease of repair
3Productivity
If additional negative pressure holding areas are added through suction chambers, then conveyance efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction chambers are merged with the conveyor belt structure itself, integrating the negative pressure generation function directly into the belt. This merging eliminates the need for separate external holding mechanisms, improving conveyance efficiency while actually reducing overall device complexity through integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles through the suction chambers to create negative pressure fields that actively hold goods on the conveyor belt. This pneumatic mechanism provides efficient and reliable goods retention without requiring complex mechanical clamps or additional structural supports, thereby improving productivity without excessive complexity increase
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 allows for safer and more efficient conveyance of goods by increasing the negative pressure holding area, reducing maintenance time and risks, while maintaining an easy-to-build conveyor belt design.
Implementation Method 1
a suction chamber (13) on the contact face (11) forming an additional negative pressure holding area (B), the suction chamber (13) of the conveyor belt (10) being in fluid communication with negative pressure holding means (30)
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments a conveying device for conveying goods includes at least one conveyor belt with an outer contact face against which the goods to be conveyed are held during conveyance. A main negative pressure holding area is provided adjacent to the conveyor belt, the main negative pressure holding area being configured to hold or release the goods to or from the conveyor belt by negative pressure. The conveyor belt includes at least one suction chamber on the outer contact face forming an additional negative pressure holding area, the suction chamber being in fluid communication with negative pressure holding means through at least one opening transversely going through the conveyor belt.