Dust Removal System for Bulk Material Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pharmaceutical bulk materials, such as tablets and granules, can be falsified by dust or fragments during measurement, leading to inaccurate results in test devices for small-volume bulk materials.

Innovation Solution

A dedusting system integrated with the test device featuring a floor with sieve-function openings for dust removal, a movable attachment with a chamber for separating dust from bulk materials, and a vibration drive for efficient dust separation, allowing for compact and adaptable dust removal and easy integration with pneumatic conveyors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a dedusting system is integrated with the test device, then measurement precision is improved by removing dust and foreign bodies, but device complexity increases due to the additional components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dedusting system is merged with the test device by integrating the floor with sieve openings directly into the test device structure. The chamber is positioned above the sieve openings, creating a unified system where dust removal and measurement functions are combined in a single integrated apparatus, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor serves multiple functions: it acts as a support surface for the chamber, provides sieve openings for dust removal, and facilitates the passage of cleaned bulk materials to the measurement area. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, addressing the contradiction between measurement precision improvement and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the floor is set in vibration by a vibration drive, then productivity is improved by rapid dust removal, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A vibration drive is integrated to set the floor in vibration, causing dust particles to be rapidly separated from bulk materials through the sieve openings. This mechanical vibration mechanism enables quick and effective dust removal, significantly improving productivity. The vibration drive is positioned beneath the floor, and while it adds a component, its simple integration beneath the existing floor structure minimizes the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Adaptability or versatility

If the attachment is made movable to reposition the chamber, then adaptability is improved for different bulk materials, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment containing the chamber is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be repositioned above different sections of the floor with sieve openings. This dynamic configuration enables the system to adapt to different bulk material types and processing requirements. The movability is achieved through a simple rail or guide mechanism that allows the attachment to move horizontally along the floor, providing adaptability without requiring a completely reconfigurable system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The dedusting system is divided into a movable attachment containing the chamber and a stationary floor with sieve openings. This segmentation allows the chamber to be independently repositioned above different areas of the floor, enabling adaptability for processing different bulk materials. The separation of movable and stationary components facilitates easy reconfiguration while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of moving object

If the dedusting system is designed to be compact and integrated, then space efficiency is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace efficiencyVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The chamber is positioned directly above the sieve openings in the floor, creating a nested arrangement where the dedusting function is contained within the vertical space of the test device. The attachment moves horizontally above the floor, and the entire dedusting system fits within the footprint of the test device, achieving compact integration. This nested configuration maximizes space efficiency while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing by using standard stacking and positioning techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 rapid and effective removal of dust and foreign bodies, ensuring error-free measurement results by keeping bulk materials dust-free, with the system being compact, adaptable, and easy to maintain.

Implementation Method 1

the base of the dedusting system can easily be set in vibration by means of a vibration drive, whereby dust can be removed quickly and effectively via the openings with a sieve function

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a floor which has a plurality of openings in a first section which have a sieving function, dust being removable from the dedusting system via these openings and the bulk goods remaining on the floor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSieving: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3730225B1Dust removal system
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 KRAEMER THILO
  • EP3730225B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3730225B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3730225B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dust extraction system (2) for a test device (3) for small-volume bulk materials (9 to 12), comprising: - a base (4) which has several openings (13 to 16) in a first section (8) that have a sieving function, wherein dust can be removed from the dust extraction system (2) via these openings (13 to 16), wherein the base (4) has a second section in which a discharge opening is provided through which bulk materials (9 to 12) can be removed from the dust extraction system (2); - an attachment (5) which is movably arranged above the base (4), wherein the attachment (5) has a chamber (7) which is open at the bottom, so that a part of the base (4) forms the bottom of the chamber (7), and wherein the chamber (7) has a feed opening (19) through which bulk materials (9 to 12) can be introduced into the chamber (7).