Nut Sorter Cage Rods and Hingeless Scrapers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current nut sorters experience obstructions within the cage, leading to a buildup of nuts and slow flow, as the connection of rods to support rings creates ridges that obstruct the passage of nuts.
Innovation Solution
A nut sorter design with a rotatable cage featuring longitudinally extending rods connected to support rings without obstructions, combined with a scraper assembly that includes pivotable, hingeless scrapers to dislodge stuck nuts and debris, ensuring unobstructed flow from the supply end to the discharge end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rods are connected to support rings in conventional nut sorters, then structural support is provided, but obstructions and ridges are created that cause nut buildup and slow flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic connection structure between rods and support rings that created obstructions. By taking out the conventional connection method, the design eliminates ridges and obstructions that caused nut buildup, while maintaining structural support through alternative means that do not interfere with nut flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the outermost periphery of the rods to extend radially inwardly into the center opening defined by the inner diameter of support rings. This dimensional arrangement ensures rods do not create obstructions in the nut passage path, allowing nuts to flow freely while rods maintain their structural support function.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional scrapers are used to remove stuck nuts, then debris removal is achieved, but the scrapers create additional obstructions and require complex hinge mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hinge mechanism from the scraper assembly, creating a hingeless scraper design. This extraction of the complex hinge component simplifies the overall device while maintaining the scraper's ability to dislodge stuck nuts and debris through its pivotable motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrapers are designed to be pivotable without hinges, allowing dynamic adjustment of the scraper position as nuts move through the cage. This dynamic capability enables effective debris removal while avoiding the complexity of fixed hinge mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the cage is tilted to promote nut flow, then sorting efficiency is improved, but nuts may become stuck between rods at angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of nuts getting stuck between rods at tilt angles into a benefit by designing scrapers that specifically target and dislodge nuts stuck in these positions. The scrapers utilize the tilt-induced sticking problem as an opportunity to implement a cleaning mechanism that removes stuck nuts and debris.
Solution Approach 2:
The scrapers act as intermediary elements between the tilted cage structure and the nuts. They mediate the interaction by providing a mechanism to dislodge stuck nuts without requiring changes to the cage tilt angle, thus maintaining sorting efficiency while preventing nut sticking.
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 design allows for efficient sorting by preventing nut buildup and ensuring all nuts larger than the desired size are discharged, while smaller nuts and debris are effectively removed, enhancing the sorting process without ridges or obstructions.
Implementation Method 1
The scrapers are configured to dislodge any nuts and/or debris that are stuck in the spaces between the longitudinal rods
Implementation Method 2
The slanted upper surface is flat and slants upwardly from the discharge end to the supply end. As a result, nuts are directed from the supply end to the discharge end.
Data Source
AI summary
A nut sorter includes a support frame with a rotatable cage connected thereto. The rotatable cage is comprised of support rings with a plurality of longitudinally extending rods connected thereto. The outer periphery of the longitudinally extending rods extends inwardly into a center space defined by the inner diameter of the support rings. The nut sorter also has a plurality of scrapers utilized to dislodge stuck debris and nuts as the cage rotates under the scrapers.