Horizontal Ejector for Recyclable Material Handling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and inefficiencies in handling and processing recycled materials derived from natural resources, such as metal, due to limited supply and increased demand, necessitate improved methods for preparing recyclable materials.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for preparing recyclable materials involving the use of a transport vehicle with a cavity design that loads high density and low density metallic materials in a specific order, utilizing a horizontal ejector to maintain the orientation and prevent shifting, ensuring efficient loading and unloading into a receiving cavity, which enhances melt and flow during recycling and reduces material damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If recycled materials are loaded into a receiving cavity without a specific order, then the loading process is simple and quick, but the materials shift during transport, causing damage and reducing recycling efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial placement accuracyVSAvoidloading system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning low-density materials at the bottom of the transport vehicle cavity before loading high-density materials on top. This predetermined arrangement ensures materials maintain proper orientation during transport without requiring complex active control systems during the actual loading process, thus improving placement accuracy while limiting complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The loading system is segmented into distinct functional components: a transport vehicle with a divided cavity structure, a horizontal ejector mechanism for material discharge, and a receiving cavity. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, managing overall system complexity while achieving reliable material placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a horizontal ejector is used to prevent material shifting, then material placement accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecycling efficiencyVSAvoidtransport vehicle complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The horizontal ejector is designed to utilize the natural density differences and pre-arranged layering of materials to achieve self-organizing behavior during discharge. The low-density materials naturally remain at the bottom while high-density materials are ejected on top, reducing the need for complex active control systems and allowing the system to self-regulate material placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the transport vehicle by introducing a horizontal ejector mechanism that operates at a specific elevation within the cavity. This parameter change (horizontal ejection rather than simple dumping) enables controlled material discharge that maintains placement accuracy while managing system complexity through a single well-defined operational parameter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If materials are dumped vertically into the receiving cavity, then the loading process is fast, but high density materials may damage the cavity and cause safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecavity damage riskVSAvoidloading time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by placing low-density materials at the bottom of the transport vehicle cavity to serve as a cushioning layer. This layer absorbs impact forces when high-density materials are discharged, protecting the receiving cavity from damage while maintaining a relatively simple and quick loading process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This approach reduces the time and energy required for recycling, minimizes material damage, and improves the accuracy of material placement, leading to increased efficiency and reduced costs in the recycling process while maintaining the integrity of the recyclable materials.

Implementation Method 1

a horizontal ejector to move the materials into a receiving cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS8702367B2Method, and process for preparing a recyclable material

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 EDW C LEVY CO

AI summary

A method for preparing material comprising the steps of providing a transport vehicle including a horizontal ejector and a basin that defines an opening, wherein the horizontal ejector is coupled to the material within the basin; loading a first material into the basin proximate the horizontal ejector; loading a second material into the basin proximate the opening; actuating the horizontal ejector for movement from a retracted position toward a deployed position; and horizontally ejecting the second material through the opening and then subsequently horizontally ejecting the first material through the opening. A system is also disclosed.