Oriented Blank Supply Using Proximity Detection and Air Jets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for oriented supply of blanks, such as coins or tokens, are inefficient due to the blanks' stable orientations on a bowl and lack of visual or physical characteristics for orientation discrimination, making it difficult to rapidly and efficiently sort them by relative orientation.
Innovation Solution
A bowl-based system with a detection device and biasing mechanism that uses a proximity sensor to identify and guide blanks into the correct orientation, utilizing a rotating bowl and centrifugal force to move blanks along a peripheral advancement channel, and a biasing device to deflect misoriented blanks back into the bowl for re-orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a bowl-based system with compressed air jets is used to reorient blanks (as in US4884678), then orientation discrimination is possible, but the method is inefficient because the combined effect of compressed air, gravity and rebounds is too weak to reliably change blank orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a jet of compressed air to strike the blank and initiate orientation change. The compressed air jet provides a focused, high-velocity impulse that overcomes the blank's stability on the bowl surface, enabling reliable reorientation from undesired to desired orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection device detects the blank's current orientation before the reorientation action is applied. This preliminary detection allows the system to determine which blanks need reorientation and apply the compressed air jet only to those blanks, making the process efficient and targeted.
2Ease of operation
If blanks are supplied on a bowl bottom, then they can be moved and sorted, but they have two very stable orientations with extension faces flat against the bowl, making rapid sorting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual or mechanical sorting methods with an automated system combining optical detection (detection device) and pneumatic actuation (compressed air jet). This substitution enables rapid, automated orientation sorting without manual intervention, significantly reducing sorting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows blanks to self-orient through the combined effect of compressed air impulse, gravity, and rebounds on the bowl surface. The blanks naturally pivot and settle into desired orientations without requiring complex mechanical manipulation devices.
3Shape
If the thickness dimension of blanks is much less than transverse dimension, then blanks are suitable for coin manufacturing, but they have stable orientations that are difficult to change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state or conditions of the blank by applying a compressed air jet that creates a sudden impulse force. This parameter change (applying external force) temporarily overcomes the blank's stable orientation tendency, allowing it to pivot and change orientation despite its thin geometry.
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
Enables rapid and efficient oriented supply of blanks by accurately identifying and guiding them into the desired orientation, ensuring proper alignment for subsequent manufacturing processes while minimizing misorientation and waste.
Implementation Method 1
a detection device suitable for detecting, as and when the blanks move to the place of the sorting zone of the bowl, the visual or physical characteristic of the extension face of each of the blanks located on the observation side
Implementation Method 2
a biasing device suitable for biasing the blanks located in the undesired relative orientation according to a direction of deflection of the bowl, so as to communicate a movement to the blanks
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a rotating bowl and centrifugal force to move blanks along a peripheral advancement channel
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
The invention relates to an installation and method for orienting coins, medals or tokens (2) from a bowl (4) containing these objects in bulk.