Cleanup Conveyor for Crop Piler Debris Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
During the unloading of sugar beets, debris falls from the end dump conveyor to the ground, leading to financial losses for sugar beet processors who pay for the weight of this debris, and results in downtime for cleanup and employee efforts.
Innovation Solution
A cleanup conveyor is attached to the end dump conveyor, positioned below to catch debris that falls from the end dump conveyor, and transfers it to the main incline conveyor, ensuring all debris is collected and processed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If debris falls from the end dump conveyor to the ground, then the cleanup process is simplified, but financial losses occur due to debris weight being included in sugar beet weight calculations
Solution Approach 1:
A cleanup conveyor is introduced as an intermediary device between the end dump conveyor and the ground. This conveyor captures debris that falls from the end dump conveyor and transports it to the main incline conveyor, preventing debris from reaching the ground while eliminating the need for manual cleanup operations.
2Loss of energy
If debris is manually cleaned up and removed by employees, then financial losses are reduced, but downtime occurs and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleanup conveyor system operates automatically without requiring employee intervention. The system self-regulates by continuously capturing and transporting debris through the conveyance mechanism, eliminating downtime associated with manual cleanup operations and maintaining continuous operational efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If a cleanup conveyor is added to capture debris, then financial losses are reduced and operational efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleanup conveyor is integrated with the existing end dump conveyor and main incline conveyor system. The cleanup conveyor shares structural elements and operational controls with the main system, merging multiple functions into a unified conveyance system that reduces overall complexity compared to separate independent systems.
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 implementation of the cleanup conveyor effectively reduces financial losses by ensuring all debris is accounted for and not included in the weight of unloaded sugar beets, thereby improving operational efficiency and reducing downtime for cleanup.
Implementation Method 1
debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyor for transferring debris that falls from an end dump conveyor to a main incline conveyor. A cleanup conveyor is attached to an end dump conveyor of a crop piler. The upper run of the cleanup conveyor is positioned below a lower run of the end dump conveyor and is adapted to receive debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor. The outer end of the cleanup conveyor is near a main incline conveyor of the crop piler to transfer the debris that falls from the lower run of the end dump conveyor to the main incline conveyor of the crop piler.