Expandable Grain Discharge Tunnel Width Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current grain bagging machines require multiple machines to accommodate different grain bag sizes, leading to transportation and storage challenges due to varying widths, making operations cumbersome and dangerous.

Innovation Solution

An expandable grain discharge tunnel that can adjust its width to accommodate different grain bag sizes, allowing a single machine to handle bags from 9 to 12 feet in diameter by sliding flanking sides outwardly or inwardly, simplifying installation and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grain bagging machines are used to accommodate different grain bag sizes, then all grain bag sizes can be handled, but transportation and storage become more difficult and dangerous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrain bag size accommodationVSAvoidtransportation and storage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The grain discharge tunnel is designed with expandable flanking sides that can be adjusted between different width positions using drive means. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single machine to accommodate multiple grain bag sizes (9 to 12 feet diameter) without requiring multiple fixed-width machines, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of transportation/storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The grain bagging machine is designed with a universal grain discharge tunnel that can perform multiple functions by adjusting its width to match different grain bag sizes. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized machines, improving transportation safety and storage efficiency while maintaining adaptability to various bag sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the grain discharge tunnel width is increased to accommodate larger grain bags, then larger grain bags can be handled, but the machine becomes more difficult to transport and store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelarge grain bag accommodationVSAvoidtransportation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flanking sides of the grain discharge tunnel are designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The drive means enables the flanking sides to slide outward to increase width for large grain bags, then slide inward for compact transportation and storage, resolving the contradiction between handling large bags and ease of mobility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple grain bagging machines are required for different bag sizes, then all bag sizes can be accommodated, but the operation becomes more cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrain bag size rangeVSAvoidnumber of machines required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grain bagging machine incorporates a universal grain discharge tunnel with adjustable width that can handle the full range of grain bag sizes (9 to 12 feet diameter). This single multi-functional machine replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized machines, reducing operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive size accommodation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The grain discharge tunnel is segmented into a stationary section and movable flanking sides. This segmentation allows the tunnel width to be adjusted by moving only the flanking sides while keeping the stationary section fixed, enabling a single machine to serve multiple size requirements without requiring multiple complete machines

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10954015B2Expandable grain bagging apparatus and method thereof

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 NEERALTA MFG

AI summary

The present invention relates to devices and methods for loading grain into a grain bag using a grain bagging apparatus that can expand and contract to accommodate different grain bag sizes. The apparatus is comprised of an expandable grain discharge tunnel. This expandable tunnel comprises a stationary section and a flanking side. The flanking side can expand in an outwardly direction away from the stationary section to increase the overall width of the grain discharge tunnel such that differently sized grain bags can be utilized with a single grain bagging apparatus. The flanking side can be slid in an inwardly direction towards the stationary section into a first position for use with smaller grain bags. In the first position, the apparatus is easier to transport or store. The grain bag can be loaded onto the grain bagging apparatus in a first position and then the expandable grain discharge tunnel can be expanded into the second position.