Particulate Material Feeding Device With Mechanical Blocking Body

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for intermittently feeding particulate materials in the manufacturing of absorbent articles, such as disposable diapers, face challenges with responsiveness and precision, particularly in switching between feeding and stopping, and in directing the flow laterally within the feeding path, leading to inefficiencies and potential blade wear in cutting devices.

Innovation Solution

A particulate material feeding device that uses a blocking body to intermittently block and unblock the particulate passage within a chute, allowing for physical collision to control the feeding, enhancing responsiveness and enabling faster switching times and more precise lateral feeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If suction force is used to discharge particulate materials from the feeding path, then intermittent feeding is achieved, but there is a time lag in switching and the feeding cannot be stopped in a very short time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching timeVSAvoidfeeding control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the suction-based pneumatic system with a mechanical blocking body system. The blocking body physically obstructs the feeding path to stop material flow, eliminating the time lag inherent in pneumatic suction systems. This mechanical approach allows for immediate start and stop of feeding operations, achieving rapid switching without the delays associated with suction force activation and deactivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the blocking body from the suction system and positions it independently within the feeding path. By separating the blocking function from the suction mechanism, the system achieves independent control over material flow interruption, allowing for precise timing and positioning of feeding operations without being constrained by suction response characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If suction nozzle is used to intermittently feed particulate materials, then feeding can be controlled, but it is difficult to feed materials only in a part of the feeding path in the lateral direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding controlVSAvoidlateral feeding position
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by positioning the blocking body at specific locations within the feeding path to control material flow to particular receiving recesses. The blocking body can be strategically placed to obstruct flow to certain areas while allowing flow to others, enabling selective feeding to specific lateral positions. This localized control mechanism permits precise targeting of particulate materials to designated regions without affecting the entire feeding path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the feeding path control by using a movable blocking body that can be positioned at different locations along the path. This segmentation allows independent control of material flow to different receiving recesses, enabling selective feeding to specific lateral positions. The blocking body acts as a movable segment that divides the feeding path into controlled zones, permitting precise lateral positioning of fed materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This solution improves the responsiveness and efficiency of intermittent feeding, preventing blade wear in cutting devices and ensuring accurate placement of particulate materials, resulting in better manufacturing outcomes for absorbent articles.

Implementation Method 1

causing a blocking body to intermittently enter a blocking position for blocking at least a part of a particulate passage in a cross-sectional direction in the chute, from a non-blocking position, so that fed particulate materials collide with the blocking body and are discharged to the outside of the chute

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical collision: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3437598B1Granular material supply device and method, and device and method for manufacture of absorbent body
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 DAIO PAPER CORP
  • EP3437598B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3437598B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3437598B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To provide a particulate material feeding device and the like excellent in responsiveness upon switching in intermittent feeding. The above problem is solved by a particulate material feeding device (100) including a particulate material storage tank (101) for storing particulate materials (203), a delivery device (102) for continuously delivering the particulate materials (203) stored in the particulate material storage tank (101), a chute (103) which drops and transfers the particulate materials (203) delivered from the delivery device (102) to drop and feed the particulate materials (203) to a feeding position, a blocking body (104, 105) which intermittently enters a blocking position for blocking at least a part of the particulate passage in a cross-sectional direction in the chute, from a non-blocking position, and a recovery path (106) branched from the chute (103) so as to discharge the particulate materials (203) blocked by the blocking body (104, 105) to the outside of the chute (103).