Vacuum Conveyor Belt Suction Pockets for Sheet Grip Under Acceleration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor belts struggle to maintain optimal contact with sheet-shaped workpieces, particularly those with circumferential seals, during high acceleration and deceleration, leading to slipping and inadequate force transmission.
Innovation Solution
The conveyor belt features angular elevations with suction pockets following the workpiece's contour, equipped with a central suction opening, and a design that adapts to the workpiece's shape, ensuring uniform negative pressure across the contact surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conveyor belts with simple elevations are used, then the structure remains simple, but optimal contact with workpieces featuring circumferential seals cannot be maintained during high acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The elevation is segmented into multiple functional zones: a base elevation structure and an angular raised portion with contour-adapted suction pockets. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function - the base provides structural support while the angular portion with suction pockets ensures optimal contact with the workpiece surface during dynamic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction pockets are designed with local quality variations - their contours are adapted to match the specific geometry of the workpiece contact surface. This local adaptation ensures that the suction force is distributed optimally across the contact area, maintaining reliable contact during acceleration and deceleration without requiring complex overall structural changes.
2Reliability
If multiple elevations with suction openings are used to ensure perfect contact with workpieces having circumferential seals, then contact reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the elevation structure with integrated suction pockets and suction openings into a single unified component. Instead of adding separate suction devices to multiple elevations, the suction functionality is embedded directly into the angular raised portion, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining contact reliability during dynamic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction pockets are designed with curved contours that adapt to the workpiece geometry, creating optimal contact surfaces. This curvature adaptation allows the suction force to be effectively distributed across the contact area, ensuring reliable gripping without requiring an excessive number of discrete elevation elements.
3Reliability
If the elevation contour is adapted to match the workpiece contact surface, then gripping reliability during acceleration and deceleration improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes parameter changes in the suction pocket geometry - specifically the contour shape and depth variations - to adapt to different workpiece geometries. By modifying these geometric parameters rather than the overall structural configuration, the design achieves high gripping reliability while remaining manufacturable through standard forming and machining processes.
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 design allows for secure gripping and holding of workpieces with circumferential seals, even under significant acceleration and deceleration, preventing slipping and ensuring effective force transfer.
Implementation Method 1
the workpieces are held by generating vacuum in the vacuum channel and thus at the suction openings on the conveyor belt
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveyor belt (2) for transporting workpieces, in particular for the suspended transport of panel-shaped workpieces (1) such as metal sheets or plates. For this purpose, the conveyor belt (2) is equipped with a belt body (13) having suction openings (12) which are connected to a vacuum channel (11) in a holding device (4). The conveyor belt (2) with the workpieces (1) to be placed thereon is guided past the holding device (4) in the transport direction (T). The workpieces (1) are held on the conveyor belt (2) by generating vacuum in the vacuum channel (11) and thus at the suction openings (12) and are moved together with the conveyor belt (2) in the transport direction (T). The respective suction opening (12) is arranged in the region of an associated elevation (14) opposite the belt body (13).According to the invention, the angular elevation (14) is formed with a suction pocket (15, 16) following its outline and with at least one suction opening (12) opening into the suction pocket (15, 16).