Movable Chute for Gentle Preform Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage devices for preforms in blow molding machines fill preforms from a great height into silos, causing noise pollution and potential damage to the preforms during filling.
Innovation Solution
A movable chute is positioned to guide preforms from a transport unit onto its upper region, allowing them to slide and gently fall into a storage container, reducing noise and damage by bridging the height difference through sliding rather than free-falling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If preforms are filled from a great height into silos, then the filling process is simple and fast, but noise pollution increases and preforms may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A movable chute is introduced as an intermediary element between the transport unit and the silo. The chute guides preforms along a controlled path, allowing them to slide down gradually rather than free-falling. This mediator reduces the impact velocity and distributes the filling process over a longer time period, thereby reducing noise and damage while maintaining filling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The chute is designed to be movable rather than fixed. It can be positioned and repositioned dynamically during the filling process to optimize the flow path and adapt to different filling requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain high productivity while controlling the descent of preforms to minimize damage and noise.
2Device complexity
If preforms are dropped from height, then the device structure is simple, but preform damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The movable chute serves as a gentle intermediary that guides preforms from the transport unit to the silo. Instead of direct dropping, preforms slide along the chute surface which is designed with appropriate friction and angle to control the descent. This simple intermediary structure significantly reduces impact forces and maintains preform integrity without requiring complex cushioning or handling mechanisms.
3Productivity
If preforms are filled directly into silo, then filling is quick, but storage volume utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The movable chute can be repositioned during the filling process to change the deposition location of preforms in the silo. This dynamic adjustment allows for more uniform distribution of preforms throughout the storage volume, preventing localized accumulation and improving overall space utilization while maintaining continuous filling operations.
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 solution reduces noise and gently deposits preforms into the storage container, minimizing damage and optimizing the use of storage volume by distributing preforms evenly, allowing for more efficient and gentle filling.
Implementation Method 1
a movable chute (550) is positioned in such a way that the preforms are emptied from the transport unit (516) onto an upper region (554) of the chute (550), slide down the chute (550) in the direction of travel (X) and from a lower end (552) of the chute (550) fall into the storage container (502)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for preparing a preform supply in a storage device (500), the method and the device being characterised in that before the content of the transport unit (516) is emptied, a movable chute (550) is positioned in such a way that the preforms (1) are emptied from the transport unit (516) onto an upper region (554) of the chute (550), slide down the chute in a sliding direction (X), and then fall from a lower chute end (552) of the chute (550) into the storage container (401, 502), particularly where the chute (550) is moved during the emptying of the transport unit (516), particularly in the angle of inclination thereof and/or in the chute direction (X) and/or upwards, particularly such that the chute end (552) remains substantially at the same height. The device comprises a correspondingly embodied lift-tilt device (510) and a chute (550) that can be moved in relation thereto.