Preform Sorting Apparatus with Rotating Rotor and Guide Rail Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for sorting preforms are limited by low working speed due to restrictive designs that prevent efficient alignment and sorting of preforms before they reach a blow molding machine.
Innovation Solution
A device with a rotatable receiving surface and a first guide rail forming a gap with the surface, along with a turning device that pivots preforms and a separating device to correct misalignment, allowing for higher throughput and faster operation by rearranging the turning device's configuration and incorporating modular components for enhanced movement promotion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the turning device is designed with limiting elements to ensure proper preform alignment, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the working speed is reduced due to restrictive designs
Solution Approach 1:
The first guide rail performs preliminary alignment of preforms before they reach the turning device. By pre-positioning preforms in a radial direction and removing limiting elements from the turning device, the system achieves both high precision and high speed, as the turning device no longer needs to perform restrictive alignment functions that slow down processing.
2Manufacturing precision
If a complex alignment system is used to ensure proper preform positioning, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented between the first guide rail (for preliminary radial alignment) and the turning device (for final positioning). This segmentation allows each component to have a simplified design with specific functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The first guide rail performs preliminary alignment before the preforms reach the turning device. This preliminary action simplifies the turning device's design by removing limiting elements, as the preforms are already pre-positioned in a radial direction, reducing device complexity while maintaining precision.
3Ease of operation
If the receiving surface is designed to accumulate preforms in a loose assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The first guide rail performs preliminary alignment of preforms in a radial direction before they are transferred to the turning device. This preliminary action ensures that even though preforms are accumulated in a loose assembly on the receiving surface, they are properly aligned when processed, maintaining manufacturing precision while preserving ease of operation.
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 solution enables higher working speeds by allowing the turning device to be designed without limiting elements, facilitating the transfer of preforms into a predetermined position, thus increasing the efficiency of the sorting process and preparing them for further processing.
Implementation Method 1
The preforms are fed to a rotatable rotor for sorting, which positions the preforms along a stationary guide rail by the action of centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
The first guide rail is arranged above the receiving surface and forms a gap with the receiving surface, through which a portion of the piece good passes and through which another portion of the piece good is held
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for sorting unit loads (10), comprising a receiving surface rotatable about a predetermined axis of rotation for receiving the unit loads (10), a first guide rail for guiding the unit loads, wherein this guide rail has a gap (9) through which one part of the unit loads passes and through which another part of the unit loads is held, a turning device (12) which pivots the unit loads (10) with respect to a longitudinal direction (L) of the unit loads (10), and a rejection device (14, 15, 22, 27) which rejects a portion of the sorted unit loads (10) that is not guided by the first guide rail (6) or the turning device (12) in a predetermined manner. According to the invention, the turning device (12) is arranged upstream of the rejection device (14, 15, 22, 27) in the direction of movement of the unit loads (10).