Wiping Conveyor Belt Sampling for Gas-Tight Card Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security inspection technologies lack an efficient and quick sampling method for cards or certificates, particularly in preventing terrorist activities and drug smuggling, as existing systems are not optimized for rapid and automated sampling of semi-volatile substances and particles.

Innovation Solution

A wiping-type sample sampling and feeding device featuring a card carrying belt with blockers and slots to facilitate surface wiping by a conveyor belt, integrated with a thermally desorbing portion and gas filtering, allowing for automatic sampling and maintaining gas tightness to enhance detection sensitivity and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional sampling method is used for cards or certificates, then the inspection process is simple, but the sampling efficiency and detection sensitivity are insufficient for security inspection purposes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The card carrying belt is divided into multiple segments with card blockers and card/certificate slots at specific positions. This segmentation allows different regions of the belt to perform different functions (conveyance, positioning, wiping contact), enabling efficient automated sampling without requiring complex external mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The card carrying belt integrates multiple functions: it conveys cards/certificates, positions them through blockers and slots, and provides a wiping surface for sample collection. This multi-functionality improves sampling efficiency while avoiding the need for separate dedicated components for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the wiping opening is opened during sampling, then the sampling process is simple, but external substances may enter or samples may leak

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas tightnessVSAvoidwiping operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wiping opening seal is pre-configured around the wiping opening and automatically contacts the card carrying belt when the wiping opening approaches the belt during operation. This preliminary positioning ensures gas tightness is maintained without requiring manual intervention or complex sealing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wiping opening seal acts as an intermediary element between the working chamber and the external environment. It selectively seals the opening during critical phases (when the wiping opening is close to the card carrying belt) while allowing necessary operations to proceed, thus maintaining gas tightness without compromising ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the card carrying belt moves quickly for high throughput, then the inspection speed increases, but the wiping contact time is reduced affecting sampling quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection throughputVSAvoidsampling quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The card carrying belt continuously conveys cards/certificates through the working chamber with the wiping opening seal maintaining gas tightness throughout the process. This continuous operation allows high throughput while ensuring that the wiping contact occurs at the optimal moment without interruption or pause, maintaining sampling quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically coordinates the movement of the card carrying belt with the positioning of the wiping opening and seal. The seal contacts the belt at the precise moment when the wiping opening is in the correct position, allowing the belt to maintain high speed while ensuring proper wiping contact and gas tightness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables rapid and efficient sampling of substances, improving detection sensitivity and throughput, suitable for security inspections, allowing for quick and successive passenger screening without reducing flow rates, and integrating with card reading and gate machine systems.

Implementation Method 1

a thermally desorbing portion configured to desorb a sample fed into the thermally desorbing portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal desorption: Desorption

Implementation Method 2

the wiping conveyor belt moves through the thermally desorbing portion to enable the thermally desorbing portion to desorb the sample on the wiping conveyor belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical wiping: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3348987B1Wiping-type sampling and sample feeding device, card reading apparatus, and gate machine apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.12.13 NUCTECH CO LTD
  • EP3348987B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3348987B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a wiping-type sample sampling and feeding device, a card reading apparatus, and a gate machine apparatus. The wiping-type sample sampling and feeding device comprises a thermally desorbing portion for analyzing a substance; a wiping-type sampling portion for wiping the substance on a card or certificate and includes a first wheel, a second wheel and a wiping conveyor belt that travels between the first and second wheels along a first direction; and a card/certificate conveyor portion including a card carrying belt configured to convey a card or certificate along a second direction so that the card or certificate can contact with the wiping conveyor belt during conveyance of the card or certificate, thereby the wiping conveyor belt wipes a surface of the card or certificate, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.