Automatic Door for Baler with Segmented Cover and Flexible Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic doors in vertical balers pose safety risks due to the potential for users to get their hands caught between the door frame and the moving parts, and they often require manual operation or rely on gravity, which is inconvenient and space-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An automatic door system with an inner door and a cover connected by a flexible member, featuring detecting and actuator means that change the sliding direction and distance between the doors, activating an alarm or stopping the door movement to prevent accidents and allowing hands-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the automatic door is made to open automatically by detecting pressure increase in the hydraulic cylinder, then the door operation is automated and convenient, but the safety risk increases because pressure increase may also occur when a user gets their arm caught in the door
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is divided into two independent parts: the inner door that performs the closing function and the cover that performs the detection function. The cover with detection button is separated from the inner door, allowing independent operation. This segmentation enables the detection system to distinguish between normal closing pressure and abnormal obstruction pressure, resolving the safety risk while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary element between the user and the inner door mechanism. It provides a detection button that senses obstruction forces before they reach the inner door, serving as a warning mediator that triggers alarm signals and prevents dangerous situations without interfering with the normal automated closing operation.
2Ease of operation
If the upper door opens sideways or upwards manually by a handle, then the door can be operated manually, but the space consumption increases and it is inconvenient for the user at head level
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of opening the door sideways or upwards as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the opening direction by making the door slide downwards. This inversion allows the door to open in a more space-efficient manner and at a more convenient height for users, eliminating the need to bend down while maintaining ease of manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening mechanism transitions from horizontal or vertical swinging motion to vertical sliding motion along the frame. This dimensional change in the opening trajectory allows the door to move along the same vertical plane as the frame, reducing space consumption while providing ergonomic operation at head level.
3Volume of moving object
If the upper door slides downwards automatically by gravity for opening, then the space consumption is reduced, but the safety risk remains that users can get their hands caught between the frame and the door
Solution Approach 1:
The detection button on the cover performs preliminary detection of obstruction forces before the inner door completes its closing motion. This preliminary action allows the system to detect potential hand entrapment risks in advance and trigger alarm signals, preventing the harmful effect from occurring while maintaining the space-efficient downward sliding mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection button provides real-time feedback about obstruction forces during door closing. When the cover is pressed against the frame or obstructed, the detection button activates alarm signals that provide immediate feedback to users, allowing them to withdraw their hands before injury occurs. This feedback mechanism maintains safety without compromising the space-efficient design.
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 system enhances safety by preventing hand injuries and reduces manual effort required for door operation, allowing the door to change direction and stop automatically, thus ensuring safer and more convenient use of the baler.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible member connecting said inner door and said cover for obtaining said distance
Implementation Method 2
The process of sliding the upper door downwards for opening is often automatically activated by gravity
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~3c
Figure 4a~4d
AI summary
The invention discloses an automatic door adapted for automatically sliding in opposite directions for respectively closing and opening access to a chamber, e.g. a chamber in a baler, said door is characterised in that it comprises an inner door, a cover, where said cover is at least partly covering said inner door and where said cover is displaced relative to said inner door at a distance in said sliding direction for closing access to said chamber, a flexible member connecting said inner door and said cover for obtaining said distance, and detecting means detecting when said distance between said inner door and said cover is decreased.