Conveyor Recess Sorting Smoking Articles by Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for recycling smoking articles face challenges in efficiently sorting and conveying reusable and non-reusable cigarette parts, particularly in separating intact cigarettes from damaged ones for recycling, due to bulk handling and the need for pre-sorting processes.
Innovation Solution
A device with a conveyor system featuring recesses and a sorting table with adjustable openings to tilt shorter smoking articles out of the conveying path, allowing gravity to separate them from longer ones, which are then collected separately, and a method that uses a sliding surface to align and store smoking articles for efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If smoking articles are collected in bulk in larger containers, then storage capacity is improved, but handling and feeding problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device divides the bulk collection into individual recesses, each accommodating a single smoking article. This segmentation allows articles to be fed one by one to the recovery device, solving the handling problem while maintaining bulk storage capacity through multiple recesses operating in parallel.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor device acts as an intermediary between the bulk collection container and the recovery device. It receives multiple articles, positions them individually in recesses, and feeds them sequentially to the recovery device, thereby mediating the transition from bulk handling to individual processing.
2Productivity
If a pre-sorting process is implemented to separate recyclable cigarettes from non-recyclable rejects, then recycling efficiency is improved, but additional handling steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the inherent physical property of the smoking articles (length) to perform self-sorting. Articles longer than the opening are automatically retained on the conveyor, while shorter articles fall through, eliminating the need for complex active sorting mechanisms or additional handling steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The sorting mechanism changes the parameter of article position based on length. By positioning the opening at a specific height, the system automatically separates articles based on their length parameter, with longer articles continuing on the conveyor and shorter ones falling through, thereby simplifying the sorting process.
3Ease of operation
If individual rejected cigarettes are handled after pre-sorting, then feeding to recovery device is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device operates continuously, with multiple recesses feeding articles one after another to the recovery device. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between individual handling operations, maintaining steady productivity while ensuring proper feeding of sorted articles.
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 efficient and rapid sorting and conveying of smoking articles by length, allowing for continuous or intermittent feeding of recyclable parts into recycling devices, reducing manual handling and improving the separation of reusable materials from non-reusable ones.
Implementation Method 1
the smoking article can be tilted from its essentially horizontal position around an opening edge into the first opening when the Length of the smoking article is shorter than the first limit length corresponding to the first opening
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for sorting and conveying rod-shaped smoking articles according to their length. The device comprises a conveying device (20) for moving a plurality of smoking articles (10) along a process path. The conveying device has a plurality of recesses (21) arranged parallel to the conveying direction X to receive smoking articles in the conveying direction X. The device also has a support device (30) for carrying the smoking articles received in the recesses, wherein the conveying device is movable relative to the support device.Furthermore, the support device has a sorting table with at least one first opening (31), wherein the length (34) of the first opening in the conveying direction X defines a first limit length of a smoking article such that the smoking article can be tilted from its substantially horizontal position about an opening edge into the first opening if the length of the smoking article is shorter than the first limit length corresponding to the first opening.