Independent Rotating Arms Tile Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tile sorting and stacking apparatuses face productivity limitations due to the need for step-activation of the sorting carousel, which results in high electrical power consumption and reduced acceleration and deceleration capabilities, and increasing the number of rotating arms increases weight and inertia, further reducing productivity.
Innovation Solution
The sorting apparatus features independently mobile rotating arms with a support crown, allowing for continuous operation and reduced electrical power usage, enabling simultaneous picking up and releasing of tiles without halting the carousel, and minimizing the angular distance between arms for increased efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sorting carousel is step-activated to pick up and release tiles, then the tiles can be sorted and stacked, but the productivity is limited due to halting during each step
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting carousel is segmented into multiple independent rotating arms (at least three arms), each capable of independent rotation. This segmentation allows different arms to perform different operations simultaneously - one arm can be picking up a tile while another is releasing a tile, eliminating the need to halt the entire carousel for each operation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rotating arm is equipped with its own drive mechanism, enabling dynamic and independent control of each arm's rotation. This allows the system to optimize the rotation speed and timing of each arm individually, maintaining continuous operation without synchronized halts, thereby improving productivity while reducing time loss.
2Productivity
If high accelerations and decelerations are applied to the sorting carousel to increase productivity, then the operational speed increases, but the electrical power consumption increases extensively
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the sorting carousel into multiple independent rotating arms with separate drive mechanisms, each arm can operate at optimized acceleration and deceleration rates independently. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high productivity through parallel operations rather than through high-speed single-unit operation, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rotating arm performs only the necessary portion of the sorting operation independently, picking up and releasing tiles as needed without waiting for other arms. This partial action approach allows each arm to operate efficiently at moderate speeds rather than requiring the entire system to operate at high speeds, reducing total energy consumption while maintaining productivity.
3Productivity
If the number of rotating arms is increased to reduce angular rotation required per tile pickup, then the tile handling capacity increases, but the weight and moment of inertia of the sorting carousel increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting carousel is divided into multiple independent rotating arms (at least three), each with its own drive mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple tiles simultaneously with smaller, lighter arms rather than requiring a single large, heavy carousel structure, thereby increasing tile handling capacity while minimizing weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rotating arm is designed as an independent dynamic unit with its own motor and control system. This allows the system to achieve high tile handling capacity through parallel independent operations rather than through a single massive rotating structure, reducing the moment of inertia and weight while maintaining or improving productivity.
4Productivity
If the number of rotating arms is increased to reduce angular rotation required, then the productivity improves, but the electrical power used increases further
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting system uses multiple independent rotating arms (at least three), each with its own drive mechanism. This segmentation enables parallel tile handling operations, increasing throughput without requiring a single large motor. Each small motor consumes less power than one large motor would need to achieve the same overall productivity, reducing total electrical power usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Each rotating arm performs its tile pickup and release operations independently and simultaneously with other arms, achieving high productivity through distributed partial actions rather than through a single centralized operation. This approach reduces the total electrical power required compared to a single high-power drive system, as each individual arm operates at lower power levels in parallel.
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 design enhances productivity by allowing continuous operation with lower electrical power consumption and increased tile handling capacity, as rotating arms can move independently, enabling higher accelerations and decelerations without compromising functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of suction gripping units (5) for gripping slab-shaped elements (2)
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for sorting and stacking slab-shaped elements (2), for example tiles, has an inlet line; a plurality of suction gripping units; a plurality of rotating arms which each bear a suction gripping unit; a plurality of seats for receiving the slab-shaped elements, forming stacks of slab-shaped elements; and a support crown which is solidly constrained to a frame. The rotating arms are mobile independently of one another; the rotating arms and the support crown are relatively dimensioned so that each rotating arm is supported by the support crown at or near the respective free end.