Air-Jet Rejection Timing for Stable Article Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rejection devices and article inspection devices face challenges in accurately setting the timing for air discharge to stabilize the discharge direction of articles without reducing productivity, particularly in production lines with small article transport pitches, and may adversely affect transport posture or weight measurement units.
Innovation Solution
A rejection device with a rejection transport passage, detection sensor, pressurization point setting means, and delay time management means to set an essential pressurization point based on transport time and speed, allowing precise control of air discharge timing to bias the article in a specific direction, ensuring stable discharge without reducing productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air is blown toward the estimated centroid position of the article to discharge the article, then the article can be discharged from the line conveyor, but the blowing time is limited to a short time requiring fine setting and the discharge direction becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the discharge approach from blowing air at the centroid position (one-point discharge) to blowing air at multiple positions including both ends and intermediate positions of the article (multi-point discharge). This dimensional change in the discharge strategy allows for more stable discharge direction control while maintaining productivity in high-speed production lines.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different air blowing strategies to different local positions of the article. Specifically, air is blown at both ends and intermediate positions of the article rather than uniformly at the centroid. This localized quality approach enables precise control of the discharge direction for each segment of the article, stabilizing the overall discharge direction while maintaining high discharge speed.
2Manufacturing precision
If a pusher type discharge mechanism is used to push the article in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, then the discharge direction can be controlled, but the article transport speed must be reduced due to reciprocation of the pusher plate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pusher type discharge mechanism with a pneumatic air jet discharge mechanism. Instead of using a physical pusher plate that must reciprocate (reducing speed), compressed air is used to discharge the article. This substitution eliminates the mechanical reciprocation constraint, allowing high transport speed to be maintained while still achieving controlled discharge direction through multi-position air blowing.
3Manufacturing precision
If the air nozzle width is increased to improve discharge stability, then the discharge operation becomes more stable, but the transport posture of articles before and after is adversely affected and the weight measurement unit is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air nozzle into multiple blowing positions along the article length direction, including both end positions and intermediate positions. Instead of using a single wide nozzle that affects the entire article width, multiple narrower air blowing points are distributed along the article. This segmentation allows stable discharge control through coordinated blowing at multiple points without the adverse effects of a single wide nozzle on transport posture and weight measurement.
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 easy and accurate setting of air discharge timing to stabilize the discharge direction, maintaining productivity by accurately adjusting the air biasing force to secure stable discharge operations.
Implementation Method 1
discharge mechanism unit that responds to an input of a rejection command signal and discharges the article, which enters a specific discharge bias section in the rejection transport passage, to an outside of the rejection transport passage by compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A rejection device includes a detection sensor that detects an article, pressurization point setting means for setting an essential pressurization point of the article by using a distance from a front end of the article and a transport time corresponding to a transport speed for each type of the article by a compressed air, a management timer that manages a rejection delay time set by using a delay time from a detection time point when a rear end of the article is detected by a detection sensor to a time point when the essential pressurization point enters a discharge bias section, and rejection command means for inputting a rejection command signal to the rejection unit for a predetermined command time from a time-up time point of the management timer.