Pneumatic Sorting of Hollow Bodies via Fluid Flow Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting devices for one-sidedly closed, cylindrical hollow bodies face issues with accurately orienting containers due to vibrations, electrostatic charges, and asymmetrical center of gravity, leading to incorrect sorting and potential downtimes in processing.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing fluid flows to align and separate hollow bodies based on their orientation, where the force exerted by the fluid flow is greater when hitting the lateral surface through the front opening than the bottom surface, ensuring correct orientation and efficient sorting, even at varying conveyor speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional sorting devices use asymmetrical center of gravity and inclined conveyors, then sorting can be achieved, but hollow bodies may tip over and be rejected due to vibrations at high conveyor speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gravity-based sorting system with a pneumatic system. Fluid flows are directed through nozzles to impinge on hollow bodies, using aerodynamic forces instead of gravitational forces to achieve sorting. This substitution eliminates the tipping problem associated with mechanical conveyors while maintaining sorting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by directing fluid flows through nozzles onto the hollow bodies. The fluid flow impinges on specific surfaces (bottom surface or lateral surface) to generate forces that stabilize or reject hollow bodies based on their orientation, replacing the mechanical inclined conveyor system with a pneumatic control mechanism.
2Productivity
If conventional sorters increase conveyor speed for higher throughput, then productivity improves, but sorting quality deteriorates due to vibrations and electrostatic charges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical conveyor-based sorting mechanism with a pneumatic system using fluid flows and nozzles. This substitution decouples the conveying function from the sorting function, allowing high-speed conveying while maintaining precise sorting control through pneumatic actuation, thereby preventing vibration-induced sorting errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the sorting mechanism from mechanical (gravity, contact forces) to pneumatic (fluid flow rate, pressure, nozzle positioning). By adjusting fluid flow parameters independently of conveyor speed, the system can maintain high discharge rates while preserving sorting quality through precise pneumatic control.
3Loss of substance
If modern closure elements have reduced asymmetry due to material savings, then cost decreases, but reliable sorting with existing equipment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gravity-based mechanical sorting system with a pneumatic system that uses fluid flow forces. This substitution allows for more sensitive and precise control of hollow bodies, enabling reliable detection and sorting of subtle orientation differences even in modern closure elements with reduced asymmetry, thereby maintaining sorting reliability despite material savings.
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 approach ensures reliable, error-free sorting of hollow bodies into correct and incorrect orientations, tolerating backlogs and maintaining single-row conveyance, which is advantageous for subsequent processes like printing or mandreling, reducing disruptions and downtimes.
Implementation Method 1
guiding a first fluid flow through the upper guide and guiding a second fluid flow through the lower guide, aligning the first fluid flow towards the first side guide such that that the first fluid flow either impinges from the outside onto the bottom surface of each hollow body or through the front opening onto a part of the outer surface of each hollow body that abuts the first side guide
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for sorting hollow bodies which are closed on one side and which are in particular cylindrical and which have an end-side opening (3a), a base surface (3b) situated opposite the opening and a shell surface (3c) extending between the base surface and the opening. On an upper guide (5b), there are arranged first nozzles for conducting a first fluid flow (9b) in the direction of a lateral guide (5c), and on a lower guide (5a), there are arranged second nozzles for conducting a second fluid flow (10b) in the direction of an outlet (5d). Since the force of the fluid flow is several times greater if the fluid flow strikes a part of the shell surface (3c) of the hollow body through the end-side opening (3a) of the hollow body than if the fluid flow strikes the base surface of the hollow body from the outside, sorting of the hollow bodies is made possible.