Pick-Up Cross Conveyor Layout to Prevent Crop Belt Clogging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural devices experience undesirable product accumulation and clogging on conveyor belts, particularly with wet and stiff materials, due to horizontal product flow between the pick-up mechanism and conveyor belt, leading to inefficiencies in processing and deposition.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a guide member forming a rising slope between the pick-up mechanism and conveyor belt, altering the product flow to include a vertical component, ensuring a height difference for products to fall onto the conveyor belt, thereby preventing accumulation and improving uniform deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If product is conveyed horizontally from pick-up mechanism to conveyor belt, then the structure is simple, but product accumulation and clogging occur on the conveyor belt
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member introduces a vertical dimension to the product flow path. Instead of horizontal conveyance, the guide member directs product upward at an angle of at least 20 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, creating a three-dimensional flow path that eliminates accumulation zones and ensures smooth product transition to the conveyor belt
2Device complexity
If product flow extends horizontally between pick-up mechanism and conveyor belt, then the guide member is not needed, but clogging occurs with wet and stiff products
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member redirects product flow from a horizontal path into a vertical trajectory, forcing wet and stiff products to travel upward at angles of at least 20 degrees. This dimensional change prevents product adhesion to the conveyor belt and eliminates clogging by maintaining product momentum and preventing accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member pre-positions and pre-accelerates product in a vertical upward direction before product contact with the conveyor belt. This preliminary vertical motion ensures that wet and stiff products arrive at the conveyor belt with sufficient velocity and proper orientation, preventing clogging before it can occur
3Use of energy by moving object
If product is pushed horizontally onto conveyor belt, then energy consumption is low, but uneven product flow and deposition occur
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member creates a vertical launch path for product, directing it upward at angles of at least 20 degrees. This vertical motion component, combined with gravity's natural acceleration, provides uniform product distribution across the conveyor belt width without requiring additional energy input or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member changes the flow parameters by introducing a vertical velocity component and altering the product trajectory angle. This parameter change from horizontal to vertical-diagonal flow naturally distributes product more uniformly across the conveyor belt, improving deposition precision without increasing energy consumption
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 guide member enhances product flow and deposition uniformity, minimizing clogging and ensuring efficient, uniform distribution of materials such as hay or alfalfa, even in challenging conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A product outlet side of the guide member directed towards the conveyor belt is located, owing to the slope, at a height relative to the conveyor belt, for example of at least 100 mm, so that, as a result of a falling motion under the effect of gravity, the product falls from the product outlet side directly or indirectly onto the conveyor belt.
Data Source
AI summary
A device, which is movable over ground in a direction of travel, where the device is equipped with at least one pick-up mechanism for picking up a product from the ground, as well as at least one conveyor belt arranged to convey the picked up material in at least one direction extending sidewards with respect to the direction of travel, and to deposit said material on the ground, wherein the pick-up comprises at least one pick-up element configured to pick up product from the ground by means of rotation about an axis extending substantially parallel with respect to the conveying direction of conveyor belt, wherein the device is equipped with a guiding unit forming an ascending ramp for the product, the guiding unit being arranged to move the picked up product towards the conveyor belt at an angle of at least 20 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane. A self-propelled agricultural machine and a trailed agricultural machine being equipped with such a device.