Drop Assistance Apparatus with Catch and Hold Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filler apparatuses for agricultural and livestock products, such as chicken eggs, face complications due to protruding members that impede movement and require complex manufacturing and attachment, making it difficult to achieve a simplified structure for slowing down the drop speed of objects during transportation.
Innovation Solution
A drop assistance apparatus with a catch and hold assembly comprising a catch and hold member, a support member, and a force application member, where the catch and hold member is inclined and pivotably supported to gradually release objects as it moves away from the slider, applying rotational force to slow down the drop speed without a protruding member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a protruding member is provided in the path of the catch and hold member to rotate it and decrease drop speed, then the speed of drop of the object is decreased, but the structure becomes complicated and movement of the catch and hold member is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the protruding member from the system entirely. Instead of adding a rotation mechanism to the catch and hold member path, the rotation is achieved through the interaction between the inclined catch and hold surface and the inclined surface of the slider. This extraction of the unnecessary protruding member simplifies the structure while maintaining the speed control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined catch and hold surface acts as an intermediary element that transfers rotational motion to the catch and hold member. By positioning this inclined surface on the catch and hold member itself, the system uses the existing movement of the member along the slider to automatically generate the required rotation, eliminating the need for separate rotation mechanisms.
2Speed
If a protruding member is provided in the path of the catch and hold member to rotate it, then the speed of drop of the object is decreased, but manufacturing and attachment become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the protruding member and its associated complex manufacturing and attachment requirements. The rotation function is integrated into the catch and hold member through the inclined surface, which can be manufactured as a simple geometric feature rather than a complex mechanical component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the catch and hold member by adding an inclined surface. This simple geometric modification allows the member to automatically rotate through mechanical interaction with the slider, achieving the speed control function without complex manufacturing or assembly processes.
3Ease of operation
If the catch and hold member moves away from the slider to release the object, then the object is released for dropping, but the speed of drop is not sufficiently controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined catch and hold surface performs preliminary rotation of the catch and hold member as it moves along the slider, before the member reaches the release position. This preliminary action ensures that by the time the member moves away from the slider to release the object, the rotation has already been accomplished, and the drop speed is controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the catch and hold member dynamically rotate during its movement along the slider, rather than remaining static. This dynamic rotation, driven by the interaction between the inclined surfaces, continuously adjusts the orientation of the member to control the drop speed throughout the release process.
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 apparatus allows objects to be slowly dropped with a simplified structure, improving ease of manufacturing and maintenance by eliminating the need for complex protruding members, while effectively controlling the drop speed of objects like chicken eggs.
Implementation Method 1
The force application member applies rotational force biasing the catch and hold member toward the slider
Implementation Method 2
The catch and hold member has a catch and hold surface opposed to the inclined surface and catches and holds the object sliding down over the inclined surface such that the inclined surface and the catch and hold surface support the object from below
Data Source
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AI summary
A drop assistance apparatus (50) includes a slider (52) over which an object slides down and a catch and hold assembly (54) catching and holding the object sliding down over the slider (52) in cooperation with the slider (52). The catch and hold assembly (54) includes a catch and hold member (56) catching and holding the object so as to support the same from below in cooperation with an inclined surface of the slider (52), a support member (58) supporting the catch and hold member (56) so as to catch and hold the object and moving in a direction away from the slider (52), and a force application member (62) applying rotational force biasing toward the slider (52) to the catch and hold member (56). The catch and hold member (56) is rotatably supported by the support member (58) so that the object is caught and held by the catch and hold member (56) as the force application member (62) applies the rotational force biasing toward the slider (52).