Linear Vibrating Funnel and Magnetic Levitation for Oily Powder Packing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently conveying oily powders like cannabis or hemp from point A to point B, as they tend to stick due to stickiness and static electric charges, and existing 3D vibrators cause the powder to spiral down a funnel, reducing speed and making it difficult to achieve the desired pack density in a smokable cone.
Innovation Solution
A novel linear piston drive mechanism using an eccentric drive is employed to focus forces in the direction of powder travel, combined with an electromagnetic levitating shaker that utilizes permanent magnets and radio frequency coils for synchronized vibration, ensuring high-speed packing and minimizing mechanical wear by preventing powder clumping and dust accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If 3D vibrators are used to move powder, then the powder can be conveyed, but the powder spirals down the funnel reducing speed and achieving desired pack density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a linear vibrator that generates focused linear vibration forces along the funnel axis, causing the powder to move downward in a straight line rather than spiraling. This linear vibration mechanism maintains both high speed and controlled pack density by preventing the rotational motion that causes spiraling.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration force is segmented into discrete linear components rather than omnidirectional 3D forces. The linear vibrator creates focused vibration along a specific axis, allowing the powder to be moved efficiently downward while maintaining control over the packing density through controlled linear motion.
2Productivity
If reciprocating motor-driven vibrators are used, then powder can be vibrated, but mechanical wear increases due to high speed operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional reciprocating motor-driven vibrators with a linear vibrator that uses an eccentric drive mechanism. This substitution reduces mechanical wear by eliminating the need for high-speed reciprocating motors and bearings, while still achieving the necessary vibration forces for high-speed packing through the eccentric mechanism's geometric design.
3Speed
If piezoelectric vibrators are used, then high speeds can be achieved, but the stroke is insufficient to shake powder at high speeds into compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an eccentric drive mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear reciprocating motion with adjustable stroke length. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to achieve both high vibration frequencies and sufficient stroke length by optimizing the eccentricity radius and rotational speed, thereby shaking powder effectively into compaction at high speeds.
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 solution enables consistent pack rates at high speeds, reduces mechanical wear, and prevents powder from sticking or clumping, allowing for faster and more accurate filling of cones with cannabis or hemp, improving production efficiency and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a linear vibrating feeder that uses a magnetic bearing to levitate a permanent magnet that is suspended on three or more electromagnetic coils
Implementation Method 2
radio frequency coils for synchronized vibration, ensuring high-speed packing and minimizing mechanical wear
Implementation Method 3
A novel linear piston drive mechanism using an eccentric drive is employed to focus forces in the direction of powder travel
Implementation Method 4
permanent magnets and or a radio frequency voice coil that works in synchronization using electromagnetic digital or analog pulse synchronization
Data Source
AI summary
A power ground oily flower such as cannabis or hemp is loaded into a tapered paper cone by using a linear vibrator having an eccentric drive bearing to focus the forces in the direction the powder was traveling. A linear piston is driven by an eccentric drive mechanism to tap the bottom of the cone with programmable frequencies to achieve the desired pack rates at high speeds. Eccentric actuators are also used to drive the power from the storage hopper to a linear vibrating feeder to a vibration bowl feeder to a weigh station that is dumped into a vibrating funnel that moved up and down with a lineal actuator to align the funnel to a paper cone with a receiving tapered tube to fill a cone with power that is being vibrated by a cone vibrator to pack the cone during filling.