Ionized Air Tray Unloading for Electrostatic Cling Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rod shaped elements in the tobacco industry's production lines tend to cling to the trays due to electrostatic charges, preventing complete unloading, as the dielectric materials accumulate electric charges during handling and manufacturing, leading to intense electrostatic fields.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using ionized pressurized air to neutralize electrostatic charges by blowing ionized air into the tray along the bottom and sides before unloading, and incorporating conducting material inserts inside the trays to prevent charge accumulation, along with air ionizers during the unloading process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dielectric trays are used for transporting rod shaped elements, then the trays are resistant to tobacco components and filters, but electrostatic charges accumulate on the trays and elements, causing them to cling together and preventing complete unloading
Solution Approach 1:
A conducting insert is introduced as an intermediary element between the dielectric tray and the rod shaped elements. This insert acts as a mediator that prevents electrostatic charge accumulation by providing a conductive path, thereby eliminating the clinging effect while the dielectric tray maintains its chemical resistance properties
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductivity parameter of the tray system is changed by adding a conducting insert. This modifies the electrostatic properties of the tray, transforming it from a purely dielectric structure to a hybrid system that combines dielectric tray with conductive insert, thereby preventing charge accumulation
2Ease of operation
If ionized air is blown into the tray during unloading, then electrostatic charges are neutralized and elements unload completely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Ionized air is used as a pneumatic medium to neutralize electrostatic charges on the rod shaped elements and tray. By introducing ionized air flow into the tray during unloading, the electrostatic clinging is eliminated without requiring mechanical modification of the tray or elements themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical charge state of the tray and elements is changed by exposing them to ionized air. This transforms the electrostatic parameters of the system, neutralizing accumulated charges and eliminating the clinging effect that prevents complete unloading
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 effectively neutralizes electrostatic charges, allowing for complete unloading of rod shaped elements from the trays by reducing the attractive force of the electrostatic field, ensuring efficient unloading and preventing elements from sticking to the tray surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
feeding ionized air into an already turned over tray along the bottom, before its unloading, and then during unloading along side walls
Implementation Method 2
The method involves using ionized pressurized air to neutralize electrostatic charges by blowing ionized air into the tray along the bottom and sides during unloading
Implementation Method 3
incorporating conducting material inserts within the trays to prevent charge accumulation
Implementation Method 4
using ionized pressurized air to neutralize electrostatic charges by blowing ionized air into the tray along the bottom and sides during unloading
Data Source
AI summary
A method of removing electrostatic charges from the tray (1, 1′) consists in supplying pressurized ionized air, first along the bottom (12, 12′) of the already turned over tray (1, 1′), and then, when unloading the tray (1, 1′), along its side walls (15, 15′) or the inner walls (14) of a compartment (13). The tray (1, 1′), made of dielectric material, protected against negative action of the electrostatic field, is provided inside with an insert (22, 22′) of conducting material, whereas the insert (22, 22′) may have different shapes. The device for unloading compartment trays (1) made of dielectric material is provided with an ionizer (10) disposed horizontally along the linear transporter (5), in the zone of feeding of the trays (1), whereas its nozzles (11) are turned in the direction of the inside of the bottom (12). Furthermore, the device has two ionizers (10) disposed vertically above an immovable throat (9) through which the rod shaped elements are unloaded, within a distance of each other corresponding to the width of the compartment (13), whereas the nozzles (11) of the ionizers (10) are turned in the direction of the corresponding inner wall (14) or side wall (15), and all ionizers (10) are disposed in one vertical plane within a small distance of the tray (1). The ionizers (10) may have the shape of a longitudinal beam with a centrally disposed duct (18) supplying compressed air to a row of nozzles (11), and on both sides of the nozzles (11) are situated ionizing brushes (19) connected to a voltage source.