Powder Supply Device Air Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional powder supply devices face a trade-off between accuracy and speed of powder flow rate, as the cross-sectional area of the powder flow path significantly affects the supply amount, making it difficult to accurately control the flow rate independently of the flow path size.
Innovation Solution
A powder supply device that includes a powder fluidizing unit, a powder supply path forming member, an air blower, and a hardware processor to control the air blowing amount, allowing for precise control of the powder ejection amount from an ejection port, independent of the powder flow path cross-sectional area, by adjusting the air blowing amount and using a supply path opening/closing unit to manage residual powder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the powder flow path cross-sectional area is regulated to a small size to accurately supply the powder amount, then the manufacturing precision of powder supply amount is improved, but the productivity of powder supply speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of air blowing amount to control powder ejection amount. By adjusting the air blowing amount from the air blower, the system can precisely control the powder flow rate without being constrained by the flow path cross-sectional area, thus resolving the contradiction between supply accuracy and supply speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pneumatic control through an air blower to regulate powder ejection. The air blowing unit introduces air into the powder supply path, and by controlling the air blowing amount, the system achieves precise powder flow rate control independent of the physical flow path dimensions, thereby improving both accuracy and speed
2Productivity
If the powder flow path cross-sectional area is increased to improve powder supply speed, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision of powder supply amount deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from controlling powder flow through geometric parameters (flow path area) to controlling it through pneumatic parameters (air blowing amount). This allows the flow path to be optimized for speed while the air blowing amount provides precise control for accuracy, resolving the inverse relationship between speed and accuracy
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
Enables accurate and controlled powder flow rate without relying on the powder flow path cross-sectional area, improving both the accuracy and speed of powder supply.
Implementation Method 1
a powder fluidizing unit (30) which blows air into the powder P in the tank (10) to fluidize the powder P
Implementation Method 2
an air blower (40) which blows air toward the powder P that is about to flow into the inflow port (21b); wherein the supplied powder flow rate is suppressed by controlling the air blowing amount by the air blower (40)
Data Source
AI summary
A powder supply device including: a powder fluidizing unit which blows air into the powder in the tank to fluidize the powder; a powder supply path forming member which forms a powder supply path in which one end is the ejection port and the other end is an inflow port connected to the tank, wherein the fluidized powder flows into the inflow port so as to be ejected from the ejection port through the powder supply path; an air blower which blows air toward the powder that is about to flow into the inflow port; and a hardware processor, wherein the hardware processor is capable of executing supply flow rate control of controlling a powder ejection amount from the ejection port according to an air blowing amount by the air blower by controlling the air blowing amount.