Vertical Axis Spiral Conveyor for Controlled Container Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spiral conveyors face challenges in arranging non-rotating functional elements and feeding supply lines within the enclosed space, and containers are uncontrolledly raised and lowered during transport, requiring significant design effort and resulting in inefficient cleaning processes.
Innovation Solution
A spiral conveyor design featuring a helical transport path around a vertical machine axis with sliding guides and guide rails, supported by a slewing ring and driven by a machine drive, allowing for the arrangement of nozzles and supply lines without rotary distributors, enabling controlled container movement and efficient cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a horizontal machine axis is used for the helical transport path, then the spiral conveyor can be compact, but containers are uncontrolledly raised and lowered multiple times during transport, requiring significant design effort and resulting in inefficient cleaning processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional horizontal machine axis configuration by using a vertical machine axis instead. This inversion fundamentally changes the transport dynamics: containers move in a single continuous upward direction along the helical path rather than being repeatedly raised and lowered, thereby eliminating the need for complex control mechanisms while maintaining compact spatial requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-rotating functional elements and supply lines are arranged within the enclosed space of the spiral conveyor, then functional integration is achieved, but design effort and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the machine axis to vertical orientation, the patent creates a stable central core around which non-rotating functional elements can be arranged. This vertical axis configuration allows supply lines and functional components to be fed into the enclosed space from the top or bottom without requiring rotary distributors or rotary joints, thereby achieving functional integration while avoiding the complexity associated with rotating connections.
3Device complexity
If containers are transported on a helical path around a horizontal axis, then the conveyor structure is simplified, but cleaning efficiency decreases due to uncontrolled container movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves both structural simplicity and cleaning efficiency by inverting the machine axis to vertical orientation. The helical transport path around a vertical axis provides inherent stability to containers during transport, enabling controlled movement that allows cleaning nozzles to effectively treat containers. This configuration maintains a simple conveyor structure while simultaneously improving cleaning efficiency through stable, controlled container positioning.
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 the arrangement of nozzles and supply lines within the transport path without design complexity, ensuring controlled container movement and efficient cleaning, particularly in container cleaning systems, with reduced spatial requirements and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least two elements or bearing elements which, on mutually facing sides, each have at least one sliding or Bearing surfaces form, between which rolling bodies are then preferably provided
Data Source
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AI summary
Spiral conveyor for containers (2) with at least one transport section (3) enclosing a machine axis (MA) in a spiral shape, which is defined by container guide and/or sliding elements (6, 8) located outside the machine axis (MA) and by container guide and/or sliding elements (7, 9) located inside the machine axis (MA) and extends between a container inlet (4) and a container outlet (5), and with at least one driver (14) which extends over the entire length of the spiral formed by the transport section (3) and penetrates the transport section or its spiral in the area between the outer container guide and/or sliding elements (6, 8) and the inner container guide and/or sliding elements (7, 9) and is held on at least two driver support elements (15, 16) that can be driven around the machine axis (MA).