Bulk Capsule Dispensing With Orientation-Discrimination Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cartridge dispensing systems face challenges in efficiently storing and dispensing cartridges in bulk at random orientations, often requiring manual handling and lacking integration with payment systems, and have limited capacity for drink preparation compared to storage.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge dispenser with a receptacle for storing cartridges in bulk at random orientations, featuring a delivery conveyor and an orientation-discrimination passage that ensures cartridges are dispensed one at a time in a predetermined orientation, using sensors and conveyors to manage improper orientations and positions, and includes a return conveyor to prevent jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cartridges are stored in bulk at random orientations in a receptacle, then storage capacity is improved, but dispensing efficiency deteriorates due to the need for orientation correction
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation-discrimination passage pre-orients cartridges to the correct position before they reach the dispensing outlet. This preliminary action ensures that cartridges are properly oriented during the dispensing process, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining high dispensing efficiency while storing cartridges in bulk at random orientations
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation-discrimination passage acts as an intermediary element between the bulk storage receptacle and the dispensing outlet. It selectively corrects the orientation of cartridges passing through it, allowing the system to maintain both high storage capacity and efficient dispensing by mediating the transition from random to oriented positions
2Productivity
If a delivery conveyor is used to displace cartridges towards the outlet, then dispensing speed is improved, but jamming risk increases due to improper orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation-discrimination passage serves as an intermediary that corrects cartridge orientations before they are fully processed by the delivery conveyor. This prevents improperly oriented cartridges from causing jams downstream, allowing the conveyor to operate at high speed while maintaining system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation-discrimination passage performs preliminary orientation correction before cartridges enter the main delivery conveyor path. This pre-correction action ensures that only properly oriented cartridges are conveyed at high speed, preventing jamming while maintaining dispensing efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If manual handling is required for cartridge removal, then orientation control is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation-discrimination passage enables the system to automatically control cartridge orientation without manual intervention. Cartridges self-correct their orientation as they pass through the passage, providing precise orientation control while maintaining high operational efficiency and eliminating the need for manual handling
4Manufacturing precision
If cartridges are dispensed one at a time through an orientation-discrimination passage, then orientation precision is improved, but dispensing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation-discrimination passage operates continuously as cartridges pass through it on the conveyor belt, rather than processing them one at a time in sequence. This continuous action maintains high dispensing speed while ensuring each cartridge is properly oriented, preventing time loss while achieving precise orientation control
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A cartridge dispenser (1) has: a receptacle (10) delimiting a cavity (10') for storing cartridges (2); a cartridge outlet (11) for dispensing a single cartridge at a time from said cartridges (2), the single cartridge being dispensed in a predetermined cartridge dispensing orientation; and a cartridge transfer device (12,13,14) for transferring cartridges (2) from the cavity (10') to the cartridge outlet (11). The cavity (10') is so dimensioned that cartridges (2) can be stored in bulk therein at random capsule orientations. The transfer device comprises a delivery conveyor that is configured to displace cartridges from the bulk of cartridges towards the outlet and to deliver the cartridges (2) to the outlet (11) via an orientation-discrimination passage (15) which ensures that the cartridges (2) are delivered one at the time to the outlet (11) and that each cartridge (2,2a) that is delivered to the outlet (11) is in the predetermined orientation at the outlet (11).