Cigarette Sorting Device Gravity Ejection Retaining Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices for elongated articles, such as cigarettes, face challenges in efficiently separating low-quality or defective items from recyclable ones, leading to disordered and unsorted rejects that require manual pre-sorting and additional handling, with a significant portion of recyclable materials being wasted due to inefficient separation processes.
Innovation Solution
A sorting device with a sorting section that utilizes gravity to eject articles of insufficient length, featuring retaining elements like guide rails to hold longer articles and a cleated belt system with deflection rollers, ensuring efficient separation and further processing of recyclable components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing sorting devices are used to separate defective articles, then low-quality items can be removed, but the rejects become disordered and require manual pre-sorting, increasing handling complexity and time
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting device segments the sorting line into multiple sorting sections, each dedicated to ejecting articles of a specific length range. This segmentation allows articles to be automatically sorted into different length categories as they pass through each section, eliminating the need for manual pre-sorting and reducing handling complexity while maintaining reliable quality separation
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary sorting by length before the final quality inspection and sorting stages. By pre-separating articles into length categories in the first sorting section, the system prepares the articles for more efficient subsequent processing, reducing the complexity of later handling operations
2Ease of manufacture
If all rejects are collected together without sorting, then collection is simple, but recyclable materials cannot be recovered and must be discarded, increasing material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting line is divided into multiple sorting sections, each targeting a specific length range of articles. This segmentation enables automatic separation of recyclable articles (those meeting minimum length requirements) from non-recyclable rejects, allowing material recovery while maintaining simple collection processes for each category
Solution Approach 2:
The device implements a systematic approach to discarding and recovering materials by sorting articles into different length categories. Articles that meet minimum length requirements are retained for recovery and recycling, while only those below the threshold are discarded, maximizing material recovery while maintaining operational simplicity
3Loss of substance
If manual pre-sorting is performed to separate recyclable rejects, then material recovery is improved, but handling time and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting device performs automatic sorting based on article length without requiring manual intervention. The retaining elements and gravity-based ejection mechanism enable the system to self-sort articles into appropriate categories, achieving material recovery while eliminating the time and labor costs associated with manual pre-sorting
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces manual mechanical sorting operations with an automated mechanical system using retaining elements and gravity-based ejection. This substitution maintains high material recovery rates while dramatically reducing handling time and eliminating labor requirements
4Ease of operation
If a single sorting threshold is used, then the sorting device is simple to operate, but it cannot handle multiple quality criteria including different length requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting line is segmented into multiple sorting sections, each with its own retaining elements configured for a specific length threshold. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple sorting criteria simultaneously while maintaining operational simplicity, as each section operates independently with a single threshold setting
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting device achieves multi-functionality by configuring different sorting sections with varying retaining element settings to handle multiple length criteria. This universal design allows a single device to sort articles according to multiple quality standards without complicating operation, as each section independently applies its specific threshold
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 effectively separates articles by length, allowing high-quality items to be retained and recycled components to be efficiently processed, reducing manual handling and increasing the recovery of valuable materials, thereby enhancing recycling efficiency and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
the sorting line has at least one sorting section (7) in which the elongated articles (A) can be ejected from the transport device (2) due to gravity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a sorting device (1) for elongated articles (A), in particular for cigarettes or the like, comprising a transport device (2), a loading device, and a transfer device (4). The transport device (3) has a plurality of receptacles (5) for receiving one of the elongated articles (A), wherein the receptacles (5) can be loaded with the elongated articles (A) by the loading device, so that the elongated articles (A) can be conveyed by the transport device (2) along a sorting path (6) in a conveying direction (F).The invention is characterized in that the sorting section (6) has at least one sorting section (7) in which the elongated articles (A) can be discharged from the transport device (2) by gravity, wherein the transport device (2) has at least one retaining element (8, 14) which is provided at least on the at least one sorting section (7) and is designed in such a way that it retains elongated articles (A) of a minimum length in the transport device (2) so that they can be fed to the transfer device (4) for further processing.