Modular Suction Receiving Elements for Tobacco Format Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conveyor devices in the tobacco processing industry face challenges in efficiently adapting to different formats of articles, such as varying diameters or lengths, requiring complex adjustments during format changes.
Innovation Solution
The use of discrete receiving elements with specific engagement means allows for easy adaptation to various formats by creating a standardized interface with the conveyor device's suction system, ensuring correct identification and arrangement of elements through a key-lock principle, enabling format-independent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional conveying devices use fixed receiving sections for specific article formats, then they can reliably convey articles of that format, but they require complex adaptations and format-specific components when changing formats
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying device is divided into modular receiving elements (groove elements) that can be independently arranged and configured. Each receiving element is a discrete unit with standardized engagement means, allowing the system to be segmented into interchangeable components rather than a fixed monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving elements are designed with universal engagement means (protrusions and recesses) that allow the same basic component type to serve multiple formats. By varying the arrangement and configuration of these standardized elements, the system can adapt to different article formats without requiring entirely different components.
2Ease of operation
If the conveying device is designed with format-specific receiving sections, then it can accurately handle specific article formats, but format changes require time-consuming and error-prone reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving elements are pre-configured with standardized engagement means and arranged in predetermined patterns suitable for different formats. This preliminary preparation allows for quick switching between formats by simply changing the arrangement of pre-made modules rather than configuring components during format changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized engagement means (protrusions and recesses) act as an intermediary interface between receiving elements and the conveying device body. This standardized interface simplifies the coupling and decoupling process during format changes, making reconfiguration faster and less error-prone.
3Ease of manufacture
If receiving elements are designed with standardized interfaces for the suction system, then the movable body can be produced in a standardized way, but the receiving elements must be precisely arranged to ensure fluid communication
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving elements are manufactured as separate standardized modules with built-in connecting channels for fluid communication. This segmentation allows the movable body to be assembled from pre-manufactured units, simplifying production while the standardized design of each module ensures proper fluid communication when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized engagement means serve as an intermediary that automatically ensures proper alignment and fluid communication between receiving elements and the suction system. The geometric complementarity of protrusions and recesses guides precise arrangement during assembly, reducing the need for high-precision manual positioning.
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 simplifies the configuration and production of conveyor devices, ensuring accurate format adaptation and preventing confusion between elements, thus ensuring efficient and reliable operation across different formats.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum created in the receiving sections and carried along by it during its movement
Implementation Method 2
the products are picked up by receiving sections on the outer surface of the movable body... connected to a vacuum source via openings formed in the movable body, so that the products to be conveyed are drawn towards the outer surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c
AI summary
A receiving device for receiving articles of the tobacco processing industry for a conveying device designed for conveying these articles is described, which has a body (2) movable in the conveying direction (A), on the outside (2a) of which at least one suction opening (8, 9) is formed, with at least one receiving element (6) which has an outside (6c) for receiving at least one article, on which at least one external inlet (10) is formed, and an inside (6d) with which the receiving element (6) is to be arranged on the outside (2a) of the movable body (2) of the conveying device and on which at least one external outlet (12) is formed, and with at least one connecting channel (14) for connecting the at least one inlet (10) with the at least one outlet (12) on the receiving element (6).