Movable Conduit Distributor for Granule Sorting and Cleaning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing distributing apparatuses for solid particles, such as granules of plastics, face contamination risks due to residue and dust accumulation, leading to compromised product quality and inefficiencies in connecting multiple sources to processors.

Innovation Solution

A distributing apparatus with movable conduit portions and programmable electronic control means for selective connection and cleaning, featuring a transport portion with independent rotation and auxiliary mouths for efficient material transfer and cleaning, reducing contamination risks and enabling connection to multiple sources and processors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a transport portion in common is used to selectively connect multiple sources to processors, then the device complexity is reduced and adaptability is improved, but contamination risk increases due to residue accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective connection capabilityVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful residue from the transport portion by introducing a cleaning fluid that flows through the transport portion to remove and evacuate accumulated plastic residues. This separates the transport function from the contamination problem, allowing the same transport portion to be reused without cross-contamination between different plastic types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards the accumulated residue through the cleaning process, using a cleaning fluid that carries away contaminants. The cleaning fluid acts as a temporary carrier that is then discarded after performing its cleaning function, restoring the transport portion to a clean state for subsequent operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Adaptability or versatility

If the transport portion is made movable to enable selective connection, then adaptability is improved, but the risk of residue falling and causing contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective connection capabilityVSAvoidresidue falling during movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing cleaning operations before the transport portion is moved to connect to different sources or processors. The control unit automatically initiates a cleaning cycle that evacuates any residue from the transport portion before it is repositioned, preventing residue from falling during the movement process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If multiple inlets and outlets are connected through a common transport portion, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a single cleaning fluid inlet that can service the entire transport portion regardless of which source or processor is currently connected. The cleaning system is universally applicable to all connection positions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cleaning access points and maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring thorough cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 apparatus effectively reduces contamination risks, allows for efficient sorting and connection of multiple sources to processors, and facilitates rapid cleaning, ensuring high-quality product processing while maintaining compact and cost-effective design.

Implementation Method 1

a cleaning flow is made to pass between the first manifold and the second manifold, in particular by making the cleaning flow pass through the transport portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Implementation Method 2

the sucking means are made to generate a suction in the outlet conduit connected to the second manifold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3505321B1Distributing apparatus for solid particles like granules

Publication Date: 2021.01.13 PIOVAN

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Distributing apparatus (1) comprising a first manifold with first ports (3) and a second manifold with second ports (4), both for the passage of material; at least one transport portion (7, 8) comprising a first (5) and a second (6) mouth, said mouths being movable with the possibility of selectively assuming a plurality of positions to allow passage of material, selectively, between any first (3) and second (4) ports; at least one first auxiliary mouth (9) arranged so as to connect said at least one transport portion (7, 8) with the outside; at least one first valve (10) susceptible of assuming at least one transport position in which said second mouth (6) communicates with said first mouth (5) to allow the transport of material and a possible cleaning flow along said transport portion between said first mouth (5) and said second mouth (6), and at least one cleaning position in which said second mouth (6) communicates with said first auxiliary mouth (9) to allow a cleaning flow between said first auxiliary mouth (9) and said second mouth (6).