Paddle Conveyor System with Slots for Debris Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyor systems used for harvesting and transporting crops like sugar beets are inefficient in removing tare, dirt, and small particles, as these debris items typically bounce across the rollers and require separate manual or mechanical separation.
Innovation Solution
A paddle conveyor system featuring a loop configuration with paddles connected between linkages, where the paddles have slots to allow debris to fall out, effectively separating it from the main material flow during conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional roller conveyors are used to convey materials, then the materials can be transported from one location to another, but the debris (tare, dirt, small particles) will bounce across the rollers and be discharged along with the materials, requiring additional separation equipment or manual separation
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor surface is segmented into discrete paddles with slots instead of continuous rollers. Each paddle acts as an independent unit that can selectively retain materials while allowing debris to pass through the slots, thereby separating the conveying function from the debris discharge function
Solution Approach 2:
The paddle structure incorporates slots at specific locations and orientations to create localized properties that differentiate between materials and debris. The slots are positioned and sized to allow small particles and dirt to fall through while retaining larger valuable materials on the paddle surface
2Productivity
If rollers are arranged in a downward slope for material discharge, then materials can be conveyed and discharged efficiently, but a lot of moving parts, motors, and drives are required to power the rollers
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle conveyor is designed to utilize the natural downward slope and gravity to drive the conveyance process. The paddles are arranged and linked to automatically follow the slope, eliminating the need for motors and drives on each roller while maintaining conveying efficiency through gravitational force
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 paddle conveyor system simultaneously conveys materials and cleans debris by allowing it to fall through slots, improving efficiency and reducing the need for external separation methods.
Implementation Method 1
each of the paddles comprises one or more slots through which debris from the material may fall
Data Source
AI summary
A paddle conveyor system for efficiently removing tare, dirt, small particles, and other debris from large bulky products such as sugar beets. The paddle conveyor generally includes a first pulley including a first side and a second side and a second pulley including a first side and a second side. A first linkage is connected between the first side of the first pulley and the first side of the second pulley and a second linkage is connected between the second side of the first pulley and the second side of the second pulley. A plurality of paddles is each connected between the first linkage and the second linkage such that the plurality of paddles forms a loop for conveying a material towards the second pulley. Each of the paddles includes one or more slots through which debris from the material may fall.