Vertical Spiral Conveyor Alternating Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical spiral conveyors use vibration or mechanical oscillation, which can cause breakage and separation of fragile materials like chips and cereals during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A vertical spiral conveyor system that rotates clockwise and counterclockwise without vibration or oscillation, using a drive system with a power source and transmission to generate alternating forward and backward strokes, allowing loose materials to be conveyed around a spiral tray without the need for belts or mechanical oscillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vibration or mechanical oscillation is used to move material in vertical spiral conveyor, then material can be transported, but material breakage and separation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional vibration-based mechanical system with a rotary motion system. The spiral conveyor tray is rotated about its vertical axis to convey material upward, eliminating the harmful lifting and throwing motions caused by vibration while maintaining effective material transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using vertical vibration to lift material upward, the invention inverts the approach by using horizontal rotation of the spiral tray. The rotary motion naturally progresses material upward along the spiral path without the need for vertical oscillation, thereby preventing breakage and separation.
2Productivity
If vibrating conveyors are used to transport material, then material can be moved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the high-power vibration mechanism with a lower-power rotary drive system. The spiral conveyor tray is rotated about its vertical axis using a motor and transmission system, which consumes less power while achieving the same material transport function through gravitational assistance along the spiral path.
3Productivity
If vibrating conveyors are used to transport material, then material can be moved, but device space and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex vibration generation mechanisms (exciters, springs, isolators) with a simpler rotary drive system consisting of a motor, transmission, and direct coupling to the spiral tray. This substitution reduces both the physical space required and the maintenance burden by eliminating vibration-specific components.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses vertical spiral conveyors for transporting loose material without the use of vibration or oscillation and methods of transporting materials without the use of vibration or oscillation. In certain embodiments, the vertical spiral conveyor comprises a vertical spiral fabrication having a spiral conveyor tray connected to a vertical member that is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, a drive arm extending from the vertical spiral fabrication, and a drive system for rotating the vertical spiral fabrication about the axis of rotation. The drive system comprises a power source and a transmission coupled to the drive arm. The drive system generates alternating forward and backward strokes on the drive arm that rotate the vertical spiral fabrication clockwise and counterclockwise about the axis of rotation to cause loose material to be conveyed around the spiral conveyor tray.