Loading Hopper With Grooved Plate And Comb Scraper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loading hoppers with scrapers face issues such as small or sharp objects getting stuck between the scraper and the bottom, causing malfunctions, and objects adhering to the sides, leading to mixing and packaging errors.
Innovation Solution
A loading hopper with a grooved plate and a comb scraper featuring front and rear scraping ridges, anti-adhesion ridges on the chains and side walls, and adjustable components to prevent sticking and ensure complete unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a scraper is positioned close to the bottom to push objects efficiently, then unloading efficiency is improved, but small or sharp objects get stuck in the clearance causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper is divided into multiple segments or teeth that can independently move and clear objects. This segmentation allows the scraper to maintain close contact with the bottom for efficient pushing while the individual segments can navigate around small or sharp objects without causing malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper is designed with movable and adjustable components that can adapt their position and configuration dynamically. This allows the scraper to optimize its contact with the bottom for efficient unloading while being able to accommodate variations in object size and shape without getting stuck.
2Ease of manufacture
If the hopper sides are smooth for easy cleaning, then maintenance is improved, but objects adhere to the sides causing mixing errors
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper sides are designed with different surface properties in different zones. The upper portions have smooth surfaces for easy cleaning, while the lower portions near the discharge opening have anti-adhesion coatings or textured surfaces that prevent object adherence, ensuring complete unloading without mixing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface characteristics of the hopper sides are modified through coatings or treatments that change the friction and adhesion parameters. This allows the surfaces to maintain ease of cleaning while preventing objects from adhering during the unloading process.
3Productivity
If a comb scraper with multiple ridges is used to clear all objects, then unloading completeness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comb scraper uses multiple simple ridges or teeth instead of a single complex structure. Each ridge is a simple element that can be easily manufactured and maintained, yet collectively they achieve complete clearing of all objects from the hopper bottom.
Solution Approach 2:
The comb scraper design uses universal ridge elements that can handle various types of objects (different sizes, shapes, and materials) with a single structure. This multi-functional approach achieves complete unloading without requiring complex specialized components for different object types.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a loading hopper (10) with scraper, comprising: side walls (11) designed to deviate a load towards an underlying bottom (12), a grooved plate (13) defining the bottom (12) of the hopper and provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves (14) arranged side by side and developed over the length of the bottom (12), a discharge opening (15) at the level of one end of the grooved plate (13), a comb scraper (16) provided with scraping ridges (17), each one of which is shaped in such a way that it moves within a corresponding longitudinal groove (14) of the grooved plate (13), moving means (18) suited to move the comb scraper (16) on the grooved plate (13) between a rest position and an end-of-stroke position.