Lifting Machine Gravity Singularisation Feedback Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lifting machines are inefficient and cause unnecessary damage to pieces due to repeated impacts and continuous operation, even when singularisation is not required, leading to waste of time, money, and energy.
Innovation Solution
A lifting machine with a translatable support system and obstruction elements that use gravity to control the movement and unloading of pieces, incorporating detection means and control systems to ensure singularisation and unloading only when necessary, minimizing impacts and optimizing operation times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lifting machine continues to function following its unloading cycle regardless of whether unloading is necessary, then the machine operates continuously, but this causes unnecessary waste of time, money, and energy, as well as repeated impacts on pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting machine incorporates detection means that detect the presence of pieces in the unloading area and provide feedback to the control means. The control means adjusts the operation of the lifting machine based on this feedback, stopping the lifting cycle when the unloading area is full, thereby avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and repeated impacts on pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting machine operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. The control means activates the lifting machine only when the unloading area has space for more pieces, creating intermittent operation that reduces energy waste while maintaining productivity when needed.
2Ease of operation
If pieces are blocked, slowed down or deviated by obstacles to achieve singularisation, then pieces are moved one at a time, but this causes damage through repeated impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The obstruction element acts as an intermediary that controls the unloading process. Instead of using aggressive obstacles to force singularisation, the obstruction element gently blocks the unloading path and allows pieces to be released one at a time through controlled gravity-driven movement, reducing impacts and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting machine and obstruction element work together to create a controlled gravitational field where pieces move smoothly from the loading area to the unloading area. The obstruction element is positioned to allow pieces to fall into the unloading area in a controlled manner without causing harmful impacts, maintaining equipotential movement throughout the process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If recovery deviator elements are used to return non-singularised pieces upstream, then pieces can be re-loaded by the lifting machine, but this causes pieces to follow the route of the lifting machine and be raised several times, causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the singularisation function from the recovery deviator elements and integrates it directly into the lifting machine through the obstruction element. This eliminates the need for separate recovery deviators and prevents pieces from being repeatedly raised and subjected to harmful impacts, while still maintaining the ability to handle non-singularised pieces appropriately.
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 lifting machine efficiently singularises and unloads pieces by controlling the movement and unloading process, reducing impacts and energy waste, and optimising operation times by only unloading pieces when necessary, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing unnecessary cycles.
Implementation Method 1
The lifting machine comprises translatable support means suitable for supporting at least one piece and suitable for translating from the height of the loading area to the height of the unloading area
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Lifting machine (10) on a processing line of mechanical pieces associable with a loading area suitable for receiving pieces to be lifted; and associable with an unloading area, located higher up than the loading area, for unloading the lifted pieces, comprising: - translatable support means (21) suitable for supporting at least one piece and for translating between a loading and an unloading position; - movement means suitable for moving the translatable support means; - control means suitable for controlling the movement means; - detection means, connected to the control means, suitable for detecting the presence of lifted pieces in the unloading area and sending a detection signal to the control means, wherein the control means control the movement means moving the translatable support means into the unloading position depending on the detection signal.