Dual Gate Supplement Feeder for Variable Thickness Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeders for flat objects struggle to process objects of different thicknesses without causing deformations, congestion, or takeoff errors, requiring multiple specialized feeders for each type of object, leading to high costs and complexity in configuration and storage.
Innovation Solution
A feeder with a dual gate system, where the gate device can be adjusted to match the properties of the object, using either a first gate device for thin objects that maintains a narrow gap or a second gate device with a corrugation device for thicker objects, allowing for wave-like deformation to stabilize them, enabling flexible processing without deformation or takeoff errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a standard gate device is used for supplement feeders, then the structure is simple, but objects with differing thicknesses cause malfunctions such as double takeoff or failure to takeoff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the gate device adjustable rather than fixed. The gate can be positioned at different locations along the conveying element, and the conveying element itself can be adjusted in position and orientation. This dynamic adjustability allows the gate device to adapt to objects of varying thicknesses, preventing malfunctions like double takeoff or failure to takeoff while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If multiple specialized feeders are used for different object types, then processing reliability is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single supplement feeder that can process multiple types of flat objects (different thicknesses, formats, and types) through adjustable components. The gate device, conveying element, and support surfaces can be reconfigured to accommodate various object types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized feeders and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining processing reliability.
3Reliability
If the gate gap is narrowed to increase retaining force, then takeoff reliability improves, but objects may be deformed or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the gate position adjustable along the conveying element. Instead of using a fixed narrow gate gap that could deform objects, the gate can be dynamically repositioned to create an appropriate gap width for each object type. This allows the retaining force to be optimized for takeoff reliability while preventing object deformation by adjusting the gate-to-conveying-element distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by adjusting the gate position and conveying element orientation to change the geometric parameters of the gate gap. By varying the gap width and angle according to object thickness and type, the system maintains reliable takeoff without applying excessive constraining force that would cause deformation or damage to the objects.
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 the processing of both thin and thick objects without deformation or takeoff errors, reducing the need for multiple feeders and lowering costs by allowing a single feeder to adapt to different object types, improving operational flexibility and reducing configuration and storage expenses.
Implementation Method 1
The takeoff device contains a conveying element, e.g. in the form of a driven belt, and a gate through which the objects taken off of the stack are separately led
Implementation Method 2
such gates have a corrugation device with which the object being led through the gate is deformed in a wave-like manner in order to reduce the surface friction of the object being pulled out of the object stack and to stabilize the flexible object while it is being led through the gate
Data Source
AI summary
A feeder for flat objects, particularly a supplement feeder for supplements, having a stack compartment for receiving objects in the form of a stack and a takeoff device for taking individual objects off the stack along a takeoff direction, wherein the takeoff device includes a conveying element and a gate, through which the objects taken off the stack are led individually by the conveying element. In order to be able to process different objects with properties differing from one another, particularly objects of different type and thickness, with the feeder in continuous operation without problems and without congestion and to provide a feeder for different objects that is as flexible as possible and that is capable of processing both thick and thin objects without lasting deformations while largely avoiding takeoff errors, the gate has a first gate device and a second gate device. Thereby an object taken off the stack can be brought into engagement either with the first gate device or with the second gate device and led through the gate.