Bulk Density Measuring Device for Pre-Expanded Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bulk-density measuring devices struggle to accurately and efficiently measure the bulk density of second-stage expanded particles with high expansion ratios, which tend to contract immediately after expansion, requiring lengthy drying processes and manual adjustments of production conditions.
Innovation Solution
A device and method involving a pressure-reduced environment to swell and recover contracted particles, allowing for fractional collection and measurement of pre-expanded particles in a vessel with controlled pressures, enabling rapid and stable bulk density determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pre-expanded particles with high expansion ratio are measured immediately after expansion, then measurement speed is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to particle contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-swelling the contracted particles in a humidity-controlled chamber before measurement. This prepares the particles in advance to their original expanded state, allowing immediate accurate measurement without waiting for natural recovery, thus resolving the contradiction between fast measurement and accurate measurement.
2Device complexity
If conventional bulk-density measuring devices are used for contracted particles, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a humidity-controlled chamber as an intermediary device between the particle collection and measurement steps. This mediator controls the environmental humidity to prevent particle contraction, ensuring reliable measurements while keeping the overall system relatively simple. The chamber acts as a buffer that maintains particle stability during the measurement process.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual adjustment of production conditions based on visual observation is used, then equipment cost is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the measured bulk density values to automatically adjust production parameters in subsequent batches. The measurement results feed back to the control system, which modifies expansion conditions to achieve target bulk density, replacing manual visual observation with automated closed-loop control for improved precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual observation and mechanical adjustment with automated measurement and control systems. The bulk density measuring device provides quantitative data that substitutes for subjective visual assessment, enabling more precise and consistent manufacturing control without significant increase in equipment complexity.
4Measurement precision
If lengthy drying processes are applied to recover contracted particles, then measurement accuracy is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-swelling particles in a humidity-controlled chamber before measurement, eliminating the need for lengthy post-measurement drying processes. This preliminary preparation ensures particles are in their proper expanded state ready for immediate accurate measurement, significantly reducing total production time while maintaining measurement precision.
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 rapid and accurate measurement of bulk density for pre-expanded particles with high expansion ratios, allowing for precise feedback to manufacturing conditions to produce particles with uniform bulk density, reducing production time and reliance on visual observations.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure-reducing unit (8) capable of adjusting internal pressures of the vessels A and B to be lower than atmospheric pressure
Implementation Method 2
vessel A in which contracted pre-expanded particles are capable of being swollen and recovered from contraction in a pressure-reduced state where a vessel internal pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided are a bulk-density measuring device, which measures bulk density of pre-expanded particles, the device including a vessel A in which contracted pre-expanded particles are capable of being swollen and recovered from contraction in a pressure-reduced state where a vessel internal pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure; a vessel B which is filled with the pre-expanded particles after being swollen in the vessel A in the pressure-reduced state where a vessel internal pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure, and into which the pre-expanded particles of a constant volume are capable of being collected fractionally; a pressure-reducing unit 8 which is capable of adjusting the vessel internal pressures of the vessel A and the vessel B to be lower than the atmospheric pressure; and a scale 6 which is capable of measuring a weight of the pre-expanded particles filled in the vessel B, and a measuring method using the device. With the bulk-density measuring device and the measuring method, original bulk density of the pre-expanded particles that are easy to contract immediately after manufacturing can be stably measured for a short period of time and a measurement result can be immediately fed back to operating conditions in subsequent production.