In-feeding Device for Grading Systems with Vibrating Segregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-feeding devices for grading shrimp and other marine species face challenges such as clumping, sideways entry onto ridge belts, and inclusion of undesirable particles like krill and debris, leading to inefficiencies and wear in grading processes.
Innovation Solution
An in-feeding device with a receiving tray and sliding plates attached to a vibrating unit, featuring ridge-like elongated members with widening gaps that facilitate the separation and rinsing of small particles, ensuring objects enter the grading apparatus in a desired position and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional in-feeding device is used for shrimp grading, then the device structure is simple, but the shrimp clump up and enter the ridge belts sideways causing grading errors and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The in-feeding device is divided into multiple functional components: a receiving tray for initial collection, vibrating units for separation, and ridge-like elongated members for orientation. This segmentation allows each component to address specific problems - the receiving tray collects clumped shrimp, the vibrating units separate them, and the ridge members orient them longitudinally, thereby improving grading accuracy without requiring a completely complex redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary actions before the shrimp reach the grading apparatus. The receiving tray and vibrating units pre-separate and orient the shrimp in the correct longitudinal position before they enter the ridge belt conveyor. This preliminary arrangement prevents sideways entry and clumping during the actual grading process, improving accuracy without adding complexity to the main grading mechanism
2Reliability
If the in-feeding device lacks a rinsing function, then the device structure is simple, but small particles like krill and debris remain attached to shrimp causing wear and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and removes unwanted small particles (krill, debris, sand) from the shrimp stream through the ridge-like elongated members with widening gaps. These members act as a filtering mechanism that allows water to rinse the shrimp while capturing and removing smaller contaminants. This extraction function improves system reliability by preventing wear and jamming in the grading apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary medium in the rinsing function. The ridge-like members create channels through which water flows to rinse the shrimp, effectively separating the shrimp from attached debris. This intermediary rinsing mechanism improves reliability without requiring complex mechanical cleaning systems
3Productivity
If shrimp enter the ridge belt sideways, then the in-feeding device structure is simple, but the shrimp get stuck on the ridges causing grading errors
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge-like elongated members with widening gaps perform preliminary orientation of the shrimp in the correct longitudinal direction before they reach the ridge belt conveyor. This pre-alignment ensures that shrimp enter the grading apparatus in the proper orientation, preventing them from getting stuck on the ridges during conveyance. The widening gaps allow water to flow through for rinsing while maintaining the orientation function
Solution Approach 2:
The in-feeding device segments the shrimp stream into individually oriented shrimp through the ridge-like members. Each shrimp is separated and oriented in the correct longitudinal position by the ridge structure, ensuring uniform orientation across the entire stream. This segmentation approach improves productivity by preventing grading errors without requiring complex active control systems
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 device improves grading efficiency by dissolving clumps, removing unwanted particles, and preventing objects from getting stuck, thereby enhancing the accuracy and throughput of the grading process while reducing wear and jamming.
Implementation Method 1
The receiving tray and sliding plates are attached to a vibrating unit, such that the receiving tray helps dissolving clumps of objects and the vibrations forces the objects to slide down the inclining sliding plates
Implementation Method 2
a receiving tray and sliding plates which all have an inclined position... the receiving tray helps dissolving clumps of objects and the vibrations forces the objects to slide down the inclining sliding plates
Data Source
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AI summary
In-feed device (1) for feeding objects onto a grading apparatus (13) for grading sensitive products. The in-feed device (1) comprises a new type of sliding plates (4, 5) and vibrating motors (7) to arrange the objects and to rinse small particles from the objects to be graded.