Postal Object Singulator with Segmented Friction Belt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing singulator devices for postal objects often cause damage due to sliding on belts with high friction, especially for longer formats, leading to potential opening of items with closing flaps.
Innovation Solution
A singulator device with a motor-driven belt withdrawing system coupled to a separator device that moves between resting and activation positions, using rubber belts with high friction for gripping and steel bars with low friction for preventing rear portion sliding, controlled by an electronic unit to maintain a constant gap between objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rubber belts with high friction are used for gripping postal objects, then gripping reliability is improved, but sliding damage to postal objects occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The belt surface is segmented into different friction zones: a first portion with high friction material for gripping the postal object, and a second portion with low friction material to prevent sliding damage. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the belt are assigned different friction characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The gripping portion has high friction for reliable attachment, while the separation portion has low friction to enable clean release without damage. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between gripping reliability and damage prevention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the belt is stopped with controlled deceleration to prevent sliding, then damage is reduced, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex controlled deceleration mechanisms with a simpler passive friction-based solution. By using a belt portion with inherently low friction, the system naturally prevents sliding damage without requiring sophisticated control systems to manage deceleration profiles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the separator device moves between resting and activation positions, then sliding prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the anti-slide function from a complex movable separator device and integrates it directly into the belt structure through the low friction portion. This eliminates the need for separate activation mechanisms while maintaining the sliding prevention function.
4Manufacturing precision
If a constant gap is maintained between singulated objects, then sorting precision is improved, but the speed control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The low friction portion of the belt enables objects to be passively spaced at a constant gap through natural friction characteristics during the separation process. The belt's inherent properties facilitate consistent spacing without requiring complex active speed control mechanisms.
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
Prevents sliding of postal objects on the belt, reducing damage and maintaining a consistent gap between singulated objects, suitable for various formats including longer ones like C4 and above.
Implementation Method 1
using rubber belts with high friction for gripping
Implementation Method 2
using steel bars with low friction for preventing rear portion sliding
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A singulator device for flat rectangular postal objects comprising: a resting surface (12,13) for the packs of postal objects; a motor-driven belt withdrawing device (19); a drawing system (15), which displaces the packs towards a plane gripping portion of said motor-driven belt withdrawing device (19) designed to withdraw individually a postal object that constitutes a front end face of the pack, displacing it in a direction transverse to the direction of drawing. The motor-driven belt withdrawing device (19) is coupled to a separator device (40), which moves between at least two positions, of which: a resting position, in which the separator device (40) does not interfere with the belt withdrawing device (19) and with the postal object during withdrawal from the pack by the withdrawing device (19); and an activation position, in which a mobile portion of the separator device extends beyond the plane gripping portion towards the pack of objects to come into contact with a rear portion of the postal object during withdrawal, moving it away from the belt withdrawing device (19) and preventing sliding of the rear portion on the belt.