Vacuum Bridge Conveyor Belt for Precise Container Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling systems with hinged conveyor belts suffer from unevenness causing mispositioning of containers, air ingress through hinge connections leading to high energy consumption, and inefficient coding due to suboptimal positioning.
Innovation Solution
A flexible conveyor belt system with defined surfaces, eyelets, and perforations for vacuum connection, guided by deflection rollers, ensures precise positioning and reduced air ingress, using a vacuum chamber for stable transport and coding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinged belt chain is used as transport means, then the containers can be transported over the vacuum bridge, but the unevenness in the belt causes the containers to deviate from the desired position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hinged belt chain with a flexible conveyor belt that has a defined, continuous surface. This flexible belt maintains the transport capability while eliminating the unevenness caused by hinge connections, thereby achieving accurate and repeatable container positioning on the vacuum bridge.
2Ease of operation
If a hinged belt chain is used, then transport is possible, but air enters through the hinge connections resulting in considerable energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conveyor belt acts as a continuous sealing surface that prevents air ingress into the vacuum bridge, eliminating the energy waste associated with maintaining vacuum against leaking hinges while preserving the transport function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the hinge connections from the transport means, extracting the source of air leakage. By replacing the hinged structure with a continuous flexible belt, the harmful air ingress is eliminated while the essential transport capability is maintained.
3Ease of operation
If containers are not optimally positioned on the hinged conveyor belt, then transport is possible, but precisely positioned codes cannot be applied to the undersides
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conveyor belt provides a stable, defined surface that ensures optimal and consistent container positioning during transport. This stability enables the coding unit to accurately apply codes to the container undersides, resolving the positioning issues inherent in hinged belt systems.
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
Enables accurate and repeatable container positioning, reduces energy consumption, and improves coding efficiency by minimizing air ingress and noise, while allowing easy belt replacement and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
by means of a negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
the perforations in the conveyor belt enable the vacuum to act on the containers held on the transport means
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a container treatment system with a vacuum bridge by means of which containers are held and transported by a negative pressure on a transport means, wherein the transport means is formed by a flexible transport belt (2).