Pulsed Vibrating Plate for Bulk Material Separation and Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for conveying bulk material parts are complex and inefficient, making it difficult to handle and distribute them effectively for robotic picking and placement.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a plate element that is moved up and down with successive pulses to lift bulk material parts briefly, allowing for quick and reliable distribution and positioning, enabling efficient robotic handling and placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a horizontally arranged vibrating conveyor surface with means for advancing or retracting bulk material pieces is used, then bulk material can be moved in different directions and disentangled, but the process becomes relatively complex to operate and not particularly efficient at conveying volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibrating plate that generates vertical vibrations to separate and distribute bulk material pieces. The vibration causes pieces to lift and redistribute themselves on the plate surface, enabling automatic separation and positioning without complex mechanical conveyance systems. This resolves the contradiction by using simple vibration mechanics instead of complex multi-directional conveying mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrating plate operates with periodic vibrations at controlled frequencies and amplitudes. By adjusting the vibration parameters periodically, the system achieves both gentle handling of individual pieces and efficient bulk material distribution. This periodic action allows the system to be both easy to operate (single control mechanism) and productive (rapid material processing).
2Reliability
If a vibrating plate with three or more actuators that can move or rotate the plate in different directions is used for seed separation, then seeds can be separated that were previously lying on top of one another or directly adjacent, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple actuators to move or rotate the plate in different directions, the patent uses a single vibrating plate that generates vertical vibrations. The vibration naturally causes seeds to separate from each other and from the plate surface, achieving reliable separation without the complexity of multiple actuators and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibrating plate system allows the seeds to separate themselves through the vibration-induced motion. The seeds naturally redistribute and space themselves out on the vibrating surface without requiring complex external manipulation mechanisms. This self-service approach maintains separation reliability while minimizing device complexity.
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 method allows for rapid and accurate alignment and recording of bulk material parts, enabling efficient and productive conveying with a simple and compact device design.
Implementation Method 1
the plate element is moved up and down with successive pulses by means of at least one adjustment mechanism, acting underneath the plate element, so that the bulk material parts located on the plate element are briefly lifted off from it during each pulse
Data Source
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AI summary
According to one method, bulk materials (17, 18, 19) are conveyed in a metered quantity on at least one plate element (20) and are lifted up from the plate element in order to organize the bulk materials by means of a movement oriented approximately perpendicularly to the plate element. The plate element (20) is moved up and down at least transversely to the plate element support surface (20') by at least one pulse, preferably two successive pulses, such that the bulk materials (17, 18, 19) located on the plate element (20) are lifted up from the plate element for a short time during each pulse, thus allowing an efficient and highly productive conveyance of the bulk materials.