Rock Processing Machine Hopper Side-Wall Heightening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing rock processing machines face challenges in occupational safety due to the manual operation of foldable side-wall heightenings, which requires operators to enter the hazardous area of the feed hopper to adjust the side-wall heightenings, posing health and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
An operating unit with a lever coupled to the side-wall heightening via a transmission element allows operators to swivel the side-wall heightening between transport and working positions from a secure location, eliminating the need to enter the danger zone, and a locking mechanism secures the position for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the side-wall heightening is operated manually by climbing into the feed hopper, then the side-wall heightening can be adjusted, but the operator's safety is compromised due to exposure to hazardous areas
Solution Approach 1:
A lever coupled to the side-wall heightening via a transmission element serves as an intermediary tool, allowing the operator to adjust the side-wall heightening from a safe position outside the hazardous area. The lever transmits the operator's force to the side-wall heightening through the transmission element, eliminating the need for direct manual handling in the dangerous zone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a lever with transmission element is introduced to operate the side-wall heightening from a safe position, then operator safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operation mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: a lever for operator input, a transmission element for force transfer, and connection points on the side-wall heightening. This segmentation allows each component to be simple and well-defined, reducing overall complexity while achieving the safety objective.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lever is made detachable with form-fit connection, then safety is improved by removing protruding parts, but the ease of operation decreases due to coupling and decoupling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed with dynamic characteristics - it can be coupled to the transmission element when operation is needed and decoupled when not in use. The form-fit connection provides a quick-couple mechanism that allows rapid attachment and detachment without complex fastening procedures, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating safety risks from protruding parts during transport or storage.
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
This solution enhances occupational safety by allowing safe and easy operation of the side-wall heightenings without entering the hazardous area, reducing the risk of accidents and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An operating unit having a lever for swiveling the side-wall heightening is assigned to the side-wall heightening, wherein the lever is coupled to the side-wall heightening by means of a transmission element
Implementation Method 2
the side-wall heightening can be swiveled about a swivel axis by means of one or more swivel bearings
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a rock processing machine (10) having a feed hopper (40) and a process unit (20) downstream thereof, wherein a conveying device, in particular a hopper discharge belt (12), is assigned to the feed hopper (40), wherein the feed hopper (40) has a hopper side wall (42), and wherein a side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the hopper side wall (42), which side wall heightening can be swiveled between a folded-down working position and a folded transport position. In such a rock processing machine, the requirements of occupational safety are effectively taken into account in a simple manner if provision is made that an operating unit (50) having a lever (51) for swiveling the side-wall heightening (44) is assigned to the side-wall heightening (44), wherein a transmission element (52) is used to couple the lever (51) to the side-wall heightening (44), and that the side-wall heightening (44) is secured in the folded-down working position using a movable locking element (60).