Compact Sorting Device With Vertically Stacked Collection Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices require significant space and are not easily retrofittable due to their length, especially when multiple criteria for sorting products like contamination and weight need to be met, and operators face difficulty accessing collection containers for product removal.
Innovation Solution
A compact ejection/sorting device with a transport means, ejection means, and vertically stacked collection containers that allow products to be ejected and collected on either side of the transport path, enabling space-efficient design and operator-side accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple collection containers are arranged side by side in the transverse direction to sort products according to multiple criteria, then the sorting capability is improved, but the overall length of the sorting device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of collection containers to a vertical arrangement in the conveying direction. Multiple collection containers are stacked one above another along the conveying path, allowing products to be diverted to different containers at different positions along the conveyor. This dimensional change from horizontal to vertical arrangement reduces the transverse space required while maintaining the ability to sort according to multiple criteria.
2Adaptability or versatility
If collection containers are arranged on both sides of the transport means, then the sorting versatility is improved, but the accessibility for operators to remove products deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging collection containers on both sides of the transport means in the transverse direction, the patent stacks them vertically along the conveying direction. This allows all collection containers to be positioned on one side of the conveyor, making them accessible from a single operator side while maintaining the ability to sort products according to multiple criteria through vertical positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sorting device is designed to meet multiple sorting criteria, then the adaptability is improved, but the space required for installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the conveying direction (vertical dimension in the diagram) to arrange multiple collection containers, transforming the space requirement from a horizontal spread to a vertical stack. This allows the device to handle multiple sorting criteria without proportionally increasing the installation footprint, as containers are positioned along the length of the conveyor rather than extending the transverse width.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport means serves multiple functions: it conveys products forward while also providing the structural framework for mounting multiple collection containers at different positions. The single conveyor system handles products for all sorting categories, eliminating the need for separate conveyor systems for each sorting criterion and reducing overall space requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a diverting device for diverting discrete products from a product stream, comprising a transport means, a diverting element, and at least two collection containers. The diverting element can divert the products from the product stream into either one or the other collection container. The products are diverted either to one side or the other of the transport means. The arrangement of the collection containers one above the other on one side of the transport means allows the operator to remove products from both collection containers from one side of the diverting device.