Pneumatic Plastic Supply System Inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic material supplying systems are cumbersome, dangerous, and laborious to maintain due to their vertical arrangement, requiring operators to work at elevated heights, which complicates material changes and increases safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A revised supplying system with a dosing apparatus positioned at a lower height than the mixing apparatus and user machine, utilizing pneumatic conveying with a vacuum pump and air injection to facilitate safe and efficient material flow, reducing the complexity and danger of operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the dosing apparatus is positioned above the mixing apparatus in a vertical arrangement, then the plastic material can be supplied through gravity flow, but the maintenance and material changing operations become difficult, dangerous, and laborious requiring operators to work at elevated heights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional vertical arrangement by positioning the dosing apparatus at a lower level than the mixing apparatus. This inversion allows operators to access the dosing apparatus at ground level for easy maintenance and material changing, while still achieving effective material supply to the mixing apparatus through the pneumatic conveying system connected to the bottom of the dosing hopper.
2Force
If the dosing apparatus is positioned at elevated height to supply material to the mixing apparatus, then material flow is facilitated by gravity, but safety risks increase and operator safety requires additional protective measures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the vertical positioning to place the dosing apparatus at lower level, eliminating the need for operators to work at elevated heights and thus removing safety risks associated with height. The system compensates for the lack of gravity flow by using pneumatic conveying through a vacuum pump connected to the bottom of the dosing hopper to transport material to the mixing apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gravity-based mechanical flow system with a pneumatic conveying system using a vacuum pump. This substitution allows material to be transported horizontally or to slightly elevated positions without relying on height differences, enabling the dosing apparatus to be positioned at operator-friendly ground level while maintaining efficient material supply.
3Device complexity
If a vertical arrangement is used with dosing apparatus above mixing apparatus, then the system structure is compact, but conduit cleaning becomes difficult and dirt removal is problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the arrangement to position the dosing apparatus at lower level with the discharge opening oriented upward or horizontally accessible. This configuration allows easy access to the dosing hopper and connected conduits for cleaning operations, while the pneumatic conveying system maintains compact routing between components.
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 system simplifies maintenance, reduces operational hazards, and enhances the flexibility and efficiency of plastic material supply by allowing easier access and improved conduit cleaning, while maintaining material homogeneity and reducing the risk of de-mixing during conveying.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum pump (30) configured for making a vacuum inside the conduit (29) so as to convey the dosed and mixed plastic material from the first container (20) to the second container (22)
Implementation Method 2
making a vacuum inside the conduit (29) so as to convey the dosed and mixed plastic material
Implementation Method 3
injecting means (35) for injecting air into the first container (20) to promote the complete evacuation of the plastic material contained therein
Data Source
Figure 1~9
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A supplying system (1) for supplying using means (2) with at least one incoherent plastic material, in particular in granular and/or flake form, comprises: - a dosing apparatus (5) for dosing the at least one plastic material, provided with a dosing opening (10) through which at least one dosed plastic material exits, and - a supplying apparatus (12) for supplying with at least the one dosed plastic material the using means (2) through supplying opening means (4) included in the using means (2). The supplying apparatus (12) is a pneumatic supplying apparatus provided with first containing means (13) for receiving the at least one plastic material dosed by the dosing apparatus (5), second containing means (21) for receiving the at least one dosed plastic material from the first containing means (13) and supplying it to the using means (2), and conduit means (29) for pneumatically connecting the first containing means (13) to the second containing means (21). The second containing means (21) comprises exit opening means (18; 24; 27) facing the supplying opening means (4), the dosing opening (10) being positioned at a lower height than a height in which the exit opening means (18; 24; 27) is positioned.