How to achieve efficient transmission of small NC spiral groove
The efficient transmission of small NC spiral chutes relies on the coordination of structural design, material selection, and parameter optimization to enable stable, fast, and low loss sliding of goods by their own weight, while adapting to the irregular characteristics of small and non-standard parts (NC parts).
The efficient transmission of small NC spiral chutes relies on the coordination of structural design, material selection, and parameter optimization to enable stable, fast, and low loss sliding of goods by their own weight, while adapting to the irregular characteristics of small and non-standard parts (NC parts).
The implementation logic of its efficient transmission can be broken down into four key design and control stages, each optimized for different pain points in transmission efficiency.
1. Spiral structure: correctly matching the requirements of "height difference transmission speed"
The spiral section is the core that determines transmission efficiency. Through the design of lead, angle, and diameter, it balances the efficiency of vertical displacement and horizontal transmission, avoiding cargo jamming or slipping too quickly.
Lead customization: Design different leads (usually 500mm, 600mm) based on the weight of the goods (usually small items ≤ 5kg) and the target transmission speed. Use a large lead (such as 600mm) for light and small items to increase sliding speed; Use a small lead (such as 500mm) for slightly heavier components to avoid collisions caused by excessive speed and ensure stable transmission time for each spiral turn.
Angle optimization: The total spiral angle (90 °/180 °/270 °/360 °) is designed according to the height difference of the site. For example, a 360 ° spiral is used for a 2-meter height difference, which not only avoids the "sliding" of goods caused by excessive angles (such as exceeding 45 °), but also completes vertical displacement in a limited space, reducing transmission path redundancy.
Diameter adaptation: The inner diameter of the spiral is designed according to the larger size of the goods (such as small package side length ≤ 30cm), usually 5-10cm larger than the size of the goods, to ensure that the goods are not stuck inside the spiral and avoid space waste.
2. Slide surface and material: reduce frictional resistance and improve sliding smoothness
The friction coefficient of the slide surface directly affects the transmission speed, and a balance between "low friction" and "anti-skid" needs to be found through material selection and surface treatment.
Selection of low friction materials: High molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or wear-resistant stainless steel plates are commonly used. The former has a friction coefficient of only 0.05-0.1, much lower than that of ordinary steel plates (0.3-0.5), which can significantly reduce the sliding resistance of goods and improve transmission speed; The latter is suitable for humid or high dust environments to avoid an increase in friction coefficient after the material becomes damp.
Smooth surface treatment: The surface of the slide needs to be polished, polished, or coated (such as PTFE coating) to ensure no burrs or dents, to prevent goods (especially soft packaging small items) from getting stuck and causing jamming, and to maintain consistent sliding speed for goods of different materials (plastic, paper, fabric).
Edge protection design: 5-8cm high guardrails are set on both sides of the slide, and the inner side of the guardrails is rounded to prevent small items from slipping off during spiral turns and to avoid friction between the goods and the guardrails, ensuring stable transmission direction.
3. Entrance and exit design: Connect upstream and downstream to eliminate transmission breakpoints
The entrance and exit are the key to connecting upstream and downstream equipment such as sorting lines and shelves. Improper design can easily lead to cargo accumulation and affect overall efficiency.
Smooth transition at the entrance: The entrance section adopts a 15-30 ° gentle slope design, with a height difference of ≤ 5cm at the connection with upstream equipment (such as belt conveyors), and a guide plate is installed to guide the goods smoothly into the spiral chute, avoiding sudden speed changes or rolling caused by the "drop type" entry of goods.
Export speed control: The export section designs a 5-10 ° deceleration slope or installs buffer rollers based on the receiving speed of downstream equipment (such as sorting gates and turnover boxes) to ensure smooth output of goods at a speed of ≤ 0.5m/s, avoiding goods from rushing out of the export due to excessive speed and reducing manual intervention.
Flow adaptation design: The inlet width is designed based on the output flow of upstream equipment. For example, if the upstream belt conveyor outputs 1000 pieces per hour, the inlet width should be ≥ 20cm to ensure that goods can enter continuously without queuing or stacking; At the same time, a diversion plate can be installed at the exit to divide the goods transported by a single spiral into 2-3 routes, which is suitable for downstream multi-channel sorting needs.
4. Non standard parts (NC parts) adaptation design: solving the pain points of irregular goods transportation
NC parts (such as irregular packaging and small parts with protrusions) are prone to jamming due to irregular shapes, and targeted design is needed to improve compatibility.
Variable diameter or adjustable slide: For NC parts with large size fluctuations, adjustable width slides can be used (by adjusting the spacing between the retaining edges with bolts), or variable diameter sections can be set in the middle of the spiral to allow goods of different sizes to pass smoothly.
Localized reinforcement design: For NC parts with protrusions (such as hooks and labels), wear-resistant lining plates should be installed at the collision prone positions of the slide (such as spiral turns), while increasing the gap between the slides in that area to avoid the protrusions getting stuck and ensure transmission continuity.
Dynamic guidance design: Some chutes are equipped with infrared sensors at the entrance and spiral section. When the NC part jamming signal is detected, the angle of the guide wheel on the inside of the chute is automatically adjusted, or a slight vibration device is activated to assist the goods in escaping the jamming point and reduce the downtime for processing.