Electromagnetic Detector with Dielectric Sheath and Compressed Air Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electromagnetic detectors in the tobacco industry face instabilities due to extraneous bodies and unwanted fluid substances that interfere with the detection of product properties, leading to potential false defect identification and incomplete cleaning methods that fail to remove all contaminants.

Innovation Solution

An electromagnetic detector with an angled emitting and receiving probe design and a dielectric sheath, combined with a cleaning circuit that uses compressed air to prevent unwanted substances from entering and remove them from the detecting channel, ensuring accurate detection and maintaining a clean environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If electromagnetic detectors are used to detect product properties through electromagnetic fields, then detection capability is improved, but extraneous bodies and fluid substances interfere with detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidinterference from extraneous bodies
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A dielectric sheath is introduced as an intermediary component between the electromagnetic field and the product being detected. The sheath protects the electromagnetic field from interference by extraneous bodies and fluid substances while still allowing the field to interact with the product for accurate detection of properties such as density and humidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

A cleaning circuit is implemented to preliminarily remove extraneous bodies and fluid substances from the detecting channel before they can interfere with the electromagnetic field. This preventive cleaning action ensures that the detection environment remains clean and interference-free during the detection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If manual cleaning methods are used to remove contaminants from the detecting channel, then some cleaning effect is achieved, but incomplete cleaning leaves residual contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning operationVSAvoidcontaminant removal completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cleaning circuit utilizing compressed air (pneumatic system) is introduced to automatically blow out and remove extraneous bodies and fluid substances from the detecting channel. This pneumatic cleaning method is more effective and complete than manual cleaning, ensuring that no residual contaminants remain to interfere with subsequent detections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If the detecting channel is not protected, then device complexity is reduced, but contaminants accumulate and cause detection failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetector structureVSAvoiddetection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dielectric sheath serves as a protective intermediary that lines the detecting channel, preventing contaminants from directly contacting and accumulating in the electromagnetic field region. This protective barrier maintains detection reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning circuit performs preliminary cleaning actions by continuously or periodically removing contaminants from the detecting channel before they can accumulate to levels that would cause detection failures. This proactive maintenance approach ensures consistent detection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution ensures accurate detection of product properties by preventing interference from extraneous bodies and fluid substances, maintaining a clean detecting channel, and ensuring correct identification of product quality without false positives.

Implementation Method 1

The electromagnetic detectors, by creating an electromagnetic field with electromagnetic waves, are able to pass through the product, detecting one or more properties of the article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a dielectric sheath, which protects the electromagnetic field from interference by extraneous bodies and fluid substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric shielding: Dielectric

Implementation Method 3

a cleaning circuit, which is configured to deliver compressed air into the detecting channel to clean from the detecting channel unwanted fluid substances and/or any bodies in suspension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3853594B1Electromagnetic detector for detecting properties of products of the tobacco industry
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 GD SPA
  • EP3853594B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3853594B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3853594B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Herein is proposed an electromagnetic detector (1) for detecting one or more properties of a product, for example a rod-shaped article, or a semi-finished product, of the tobacco industry, which comprises a detecting channel (2) open on three sides to allow the product to pass through the electromagnetic detector (1) along a pass-through direction (D), in the detecting channel (2) there being an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic detector (1) comprises a cleaning circuit (811) for removing unwanted fluid substances or extraneous bodies from the detecting channel (2) and which is configured to deliver compressed air, preferably into the detecting channel (2).