Foreign Substance Removal from Highly Adhesive Powder via Mesh Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods struggle to effectively remove foreign substance particles from highly adhesive powders as agglomerates form, making it difficult to expose and detect these particles.

Innovation Solution

A foreign substance removing device that includes a substrate with a classification unit equipped with a classification mesh, a vibration unit, and a pressing unit to de-agglomerate and classify highly adhesive powders, exposing foreign substance particles for detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vibration is applied to powder to form a thin layer, then foreign substance particles can be exposed on the surface for detection, but highly adhesive powder forms agglomerates that prevent effective exposure of foreign substance particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of foreign substance particlesVSAvoidde-agglomeration of highly adhesive powder
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibration unit that vibrates the substrate or classification mesh at high frequency. This vibration breaks down agglomerates of highly adhesive powder, allowing foreign substance particles to be exposed on the surface for detection by the imaging unit, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining powder integrity and achieving particle exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the powder processing into distinct functional zones: a classification unit with a classification mesh that separates powder from foreign substances, and a detection unit with an imaging unit. This segmentation allows different physical processes (vibration for de-agglomeration, gravity for classification, imaging for detection) to occur in sequence, effectively handling highly adhesive powders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a classification mesh is used to separate powder from foreign substances, then foreign substances can be removed, but highly adhesive powder agglomerates prevent proper classification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign substance removal efficiencyVSAvoidclassification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration unit is positioned to vibrate the substrate or classification mesh during the classification process. This continuous vibration prevents highly adhesive powder from forming stable agglomerates, ensuring that the classification mesh can effectively separate foreign substances from powder particles, thereby maintaining both productivity and classification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary de-agglomeration through vibration before the powder reaches the classification mesh. This preliminary action breaks down agglomerates in advance, ensuring that when the powder encounters the classification mesh, individual particles can be properly separated from foreign substances, improving classification reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If only vibration is applied to powder, then powder can be fluidized, but highly adhesive powder maintains agglomerate structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepowder fluidizationVSAvoidagglomerate breakdown
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs mechanical vibration at specific frequencies and amplitudes that are sufficient to break down agglomerates of highly adhesive powder while still maintaining powder fluidization. The vibration unit is designed to deliver controlled vibrational energy that exceeds the adhesive forces holding agglomerates together, achieving both fluidization and de-agglomeration simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The system adjusts vibration parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) to optimize the balance between fluidization and de-agglomeration. By changing these parameters, the system can adapt to different powder characteristics, ensuring effective breakdown of highly adhesive agglomerates while maintaining the fluidized state necessary for classification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The device effectively de-agglomerates and classifies highly adhesive powders, allowing for reliable detection and removal of foreign substance particles.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration unit that vibrates the substrate and/or the classification mesh

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a pressing unit that presses the classification mesh against the powder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP4624061A1Device for removing foreign substances
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • EP4624061A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4624061A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4624061A1 patent drawingFigure 3B~4

AI summary

An object of the invention is to provide a foreign substance removing device that is effective even for highly adhesive powder. Therefore, the foreign substance removing device of the invention includes: a substrate on which powder is to be placed; and a classification unit configured to classify powder to be collected and a foreign substance particle to be removed. The classification unit includes a classification mesh, a vibration unit that vibrates the substrate and/or the classification mesh, and a pressing unit that presses the classification mesh against the powder. In this way, by pressing the mesh against the powder and vibrating the powder, agglomerates of the powder can be de-agglomerated, a classification can be performed at the same time, and thus a foreign substance can be removed even for highly adhesive powder.