Hopper Compaction Inhibiting Member Prevents Bridging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hopper devices face challenges in easily discharging stored materials due to bridging or compaction, which requires manual intervention and poses safety risks, and existing solutions like vibration motors are inefficient or cause device deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A hopper device design featuring a wire member with a compaction inhibiting member that is foldable and moves downward to prevent bridging and compaction, allowing for easy discharge of materials without the need for power sources like motors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vibration motor is installed on the side surface of the hopper device to cause vibrations and make stored material fall, then the stored material can be discharged, but power is required and adverse effects such as deterioration of the hopper device due to vibration may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge of stored materialVSAvoiddeterioration of hopper device

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful vibration function from the hopper device by removing the vibration motor entirely. Instead, a simple wire member with a compaction inhibiting member is used, which prevents bridging and compaction through its own weight and geometry without generating vibrations that could damage the hopper device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of vibration into a beneficial static structure. The wire member with compaction inhibiting member uses gravity and its own weight to prevent compaction and bridging, eliminating the need for vibrational forces that cause device deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If manual intervention is used to scrape off stored material remaining in the hopper device, then the stored material can be discharged, but work risk such as sudden falling of the stored material occurs and a large increase in man-hours occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge of stored materialVSAvoidsafety during manual intervention

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by preventing compaction and bridging from occurring in the first place. The compaction inhibiting member is positioned to prevent material from compacting and forming arch structures, thereby eliminating the need for subsequent manual intervention to clear blocked material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables self-service discharge where the stored material flows naturally under gravity without requiring manual scraping or external intervention. The compaction inhibiting member ensures material continues to flow freely, making the system self-regulating and eliminating safety risks associated with manual handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the cross-sectional area of the hopper device is narrowed from the input port toward the discharge port to enable material storage, then material can be stored, but particles, powder, sludge, or the like as the stored material form an arch structure and block the discharge port

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity of hopper deviceVSAvoiddischarge from discharge port

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces an intermediary element - the compaction inhibiting member - between the stored material and the discharge port. This intermediary prevents material from forming arch structures and blocking the discharge port, while allowing the hopper to maintain its narrowed cross-sectional area for efficient storage.

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 design effectively inhibits bridging and compaction, facilitating easy discharge of materials and reducing the risk of manual intervention, while also avoiding potential device deterioration from vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

a compaction inhibiting member attached to the wire member and movable at least in the vertical direction together with the wire member in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the discharge port by the opening and closing portion, wherein the compaction inhibiting member is configured to be foldable from an opened state to a downwardly closed state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250197093A1Hopper device

Publication Date: 2025.06.19 UNITED SEMICON JAPAN CO LTD

AI summary

A hopper device includes a hopper body having an opening and closing portion configured to open and close a discharge port provided on a lower surface of the hopper body to store a material; a wire member having one end connected to the opening and closing portion and movable at least in a vertical direction in conjunction with an opening and closing operation of the discharge port by the opening and closing portion; and a compaction inhibiting member attached to the wire member and movable at least in the vertical direction together with the wire member in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the discharge port by the opening and closing portion. The compaction inhibiting member is configured to be foldable from an opened state to a downwardly closed state.