Vortex Suction Units for Secure Article Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyance systems face challenges in securely transporting flat or lightweight articles due to ambient air interference, especially on vertical or inclined conveyors, where articles tend to slide, roll, or fly off the transfer path.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system using sequential vortex suction units with radially disposed blades to generate a vortex flow, creating a low-pressure region that attracts and secures articles along the conveyor path, while a main controller individually controls the suction units to maintain article alignment and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If friction drives (belts or rollers) are used to convey articles, then the article can be transported along the transfer path, but ambient air streams can cause the article to get blown off from the conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a vortex suction unit that generates a controlled low-pressure region through vortex flow to attract and hold the article against the conveyor surface. This pneumatic approach replaces purely mechanical friction drives with a system that uses pressure differentials to secure the article, making it resistant to ambient air streams while maintaining reliable transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the suction force parameters by controlling the rotation speed of the vortex generator. By changing the rotational speed, the low-pressure region intensity can be modulated to adapt to different article weights and ambient conditions, ensuring reliable retention without excessive force.
2Speed
If the conveyor is vertical or inclined, then the article can be transported upward, but the article is susceptible to sliding, rolling or flying away from the transfer path
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex suction unit creates a low-pressure region that generates an attractive force perpendicular to the conveyor surface. On vertical or inclined conveyors, this pneumatic attraction counteracts gravitational forces that would otherwise cause sliding or rolling, maintaining article stability while enabling upward transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction force generated by the vortex flow acts as a counterbalancing force to gravity. By creating a low-pressure region that attracts the article toward the conveyor surface, the system effectively counteracts the weight component parallel to the conveyor, preventing sliding and rolling on inclined or vertical surfaces.
3Reliability
If an external low pressure generator is used to provide additional force to maintain an article on a conveyor, then the article can be secured against air streams and gravity, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous suction, the vortex suction unit uses periodic vortex generation through rotating blades. The vortex flow is created in pulses as the blades rotate, generating the necessary low-pressure regions intermittently. This periodic action reduces average power consumption compared to continuous suction while maintaining effective article retention during the vortex phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical friction-based retention systems with a vortex flow-based pneumatic system. The rotating blade mechanism generates vortex flow that creates low-pressure regions, substituting mechanical contact and friction with fluid dynamic effects, thereby reducing the energy required for article retention.
4Productivity
If axial fans are used to convey articles, then the article can be moved along the conveyor, but the power consumption is high and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex suction unit uses controlled vortex flow to create localized low-pressure regions that efficiently attract and move articles. This pneumatic approach is more energy-efficient than axial fans because it creates focused suction zones rather than generating high-velocity air streams across the entire conveyor, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using axial fans that create broad, high-velocity air flows across the entire conveyor surface, the vortex suction unit creates localized low-pressure regions directly at the article position. This localized approach concentrates the energy where it is needed, improving conveyance efficiency and reducing wasted energy in surrounding areas.
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 effectively adheres and moves articles along conveyors, even in the presence of gravity, with reduced power consumption and increased efficiency compared to traditional axial fans, allowing for flexible and secure transport on various conveyor types.
Implementation Method 1
vortex suction units with radially disposed blades to generate a vortex flow, creating a low-pressure region that attracts and secures articles
Implementation Method 2
creating a low-pressure region that attracts and secures articles along the conveyor path
Data Source
AI summary
A system for conveying an article along a transfer path includes at least a first and a second vortex suction unit disposed in sequence in a direction of the transfer path. A conveyor is configured to support the article relative to at least one of the suction units and a main controller is configured to separately control the vortex suction units so as to convey the article along the transfer path using the conveyor.