Fiber Separation Device with Balanced Air Flow for Dispersion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing separation devices face challenges in efficiently supplying and collecting granular materials due to air flow rate imbalances, leading to potential dispersion of materials during the separation process, which affects the quality of the separation and collection of fibers.

Innovation Solution

A separation device with a movable mesh and a configuration of ejection and suction units, where the flow rates of gas ejected and sucked by these units are carefully balanced (Q1 < Q2 and Q3 < Q4) to ensure effective supply, separation, and collection of fibers, preventing dispersion and ensuring high-quality fiber collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high flow rate air is ejected from ejection ports to supply and separate granular material, then material separation efficiency is improved, but granular material disperses and cannot be properly supplied or collected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial separation efficiencyVSAvoidmaterial supply and collection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device divides the air flow control into multiple independent suction ports (first suction port and second suction port) and ejection ports (first ejection port and second ejection port). Each port can be controlled independently to optimize air flow distribution, preventing material dispersion while maintaining separation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the belt screen have different air flow characteristics. The first suction port and second suction port are positioned at different locations to create localized suction zones, while ejection ports are strategically placed to create localized air streams. This local optimization ensures material remains stable during supply and collection while enabling effective separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If air flow rates are increased to improve separation performance, then foreign matter removal is enhanced, but material dispersion occurs affecting supply quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign matter removal qualityVSAvoidmaterial supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multiple suction and ejection ports that can be independently controlled to create a balanced air flow field. The distributed port configuration provides feedback-like optimization where air flow patterns can be adjusted to maintain material stability while achieving effective foreign matter removal through the belt screen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The belt screen acts as an intermediary between material supply and collection. The multiple suction and ejection ports work through this intermediary to achieve separation without direct high-velocity air streams that would cause material dispersion, maintaining both separation quality and supply reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 balanced flow rates and port configurations enable satisfactory supply, selection, and collection of fibers, preventing dispersion and ensuring high-quality fiber collection, which contributes to the production of high-quality sheets.

Implementation Method 1

a first suction unit that is provided on the second surface side of the mesh and configured to suck a part of the material supplied onto the first surface together with gas

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a second ejection unit that is provided on the second surface side of the mesh, is disposed downstream in a movement direction of the mesh with respect to the first suction unit, and ejects gas toward the second surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas ejection: Jet

Implementation Method 3

a second suction unit that is provided on the first surface side of the mesh and sucks and collects the material that does not pass through the mesh by the first suction unit and remains on the first surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3693089B1Separation device and fiber body deposition apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3693089B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3693089B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3693089B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A separation device (1) includes a movable mesh (3) that has a first surface (311) and a second surface (312) in a front and back relationship, a first ejection unit (4) that ejects a material containing a fiber together with gas and supplies the material onto the first surface of the mesh, a first suction (5) unit that sucks a part of the material supplied onto the first surface together with gas, a second ejection unit (6) that ejects gas toward the second surface, and a second suction unit (7) that sucks and collects, together with the gas, the material that does not pass through the mesh by the first suction unit and remains on the first surface. Q1 &lt; Q2 and Q3 &lt; Q4, where a flow rate of gas ejected from the first ejection unit is Q1, a flow rate of gas sucked by the first suction unit is Q2, a flow rate of gas ejected from the second ejection unit is Q3, and a flow rate of gas sucked by the second suction unit is Q4.