Mixing Machine Outlet Chute Interlock for Safe Material Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mixing machines for materials like mortar, plaster, and concrete pose a risk of manual intervention through the outlet opening during operation, which can compromise safety.

Innovation Solution

A mixing machine with a safety device featuring a displaceable ejection chute that blocks manual access to the outlet opening, ensuring the closure element cannot be displaced from the closed position to the open position unless the safety device is in a shielding position, and the ejection chute is designed with safety elements to prevent intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the outlet opening is regularly open to allow material discharge, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety risk of manual access to the mixing container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of material dischargeVSAvoidsafety risk of manual access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A discharge chute is introduced as an intermediary component between the outlet opening and the external environment. The chute includes a protective grille that acts as a physical barrier, allowing material to pass through while preventing manual access to the mixing container interior. This mediator enables both safe operation and ease of material discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective grille is selectively positioned only at the discharge opening area where access risk exists, rather than covering the entire mixing container. This localized safety measure allows easy material discharge through the griddled area while maintaining safety, without impeding the overall ease of operation for material discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective cover is provided over the outlet opening, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation for material discharge deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety protectionVSAvoidease of material discharge

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a solid protective cover that would block material discharge, a protective grille with porous/open structure is employed. The grille consists of bars or mesh that allow material to pass through freely while maintaining safety protection, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Device complexity

If the discharge chute is made stationary, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge chute is designed with movable capability, allowing it to be displaced between a operational position (where it shields the outlet opening) and a cleaning position (where it can be accessed and cleaned). This dynamic design enables easy cleaning while maintaining structural simplicity, as the movement mechanism is straightforward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the closure element can be freely moved between closed and open positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of closure element operationVSAvoidsafety reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A safety device with interlocking mechanism is implemented that provides feedback control on the closure element's movement. The safety device monitors the position of the discharge chute and only allows the closure element to move to the open position when the discharge chute is properly positioned to provide protection. This feedback mechanism ensures safety reliability while maintaining ease of operation through automatic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3124194B1Mixing machine, in particular construction mixing machine for mixing mixing material, in particular for mixing mortars, plasters, screeds or concrete and process using such machine

Publication Date: 2021.05.05 COLLOMIX RUHR UND MISCHGERATE

Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention relates to a mixing machine (1) with a mixing container (3) in which a mixing tool is arranged or can be arranged, wherein the mixing container (3) has at least one outlet opening (15) in a container wall which can be closed by means of at least one closing element (17), wherein the at least one closing element (17) can be moved between a closing and/or mixing position (19) which closes the at least one outlet opening (15) and an outlet position (21) which releases the at least one outlet opening (15).According to the invention, a safety device is provided which, when a closure element (17) is displaced at least partially into the outlet position (21), shields the at least one outlet opening (15) while simultaneously allowing the outflow of the mixture in such a way that no access to the mixing container (3) is possible through the at least one outlet opening (15) and/or blocks a displacement of the closure element (17) from the closure and/or mixing position (19) to the outlet position (21) if the safety device is not in a position that shields the outlet opening (15) from access to the mixing container (3) through the at least one outlet opening (15).