Rod Discharge Mechanism Using Inclined Chute and Gravity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for discharging processed rod-like bodies incur a significant cost increase due to the need for complex and costly mechanisms to handle varying lengths and orientations of the rods.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that involve a preprocessing transfer step, processing step, post-processing transfer step, rail portion transfer step, withdrawing step, detection step, and discharge step, utilizing a processing unit, rail portion, withdrawing unit, and discharge unit to guide and discharge rod-like bodies in a perpendicular direction, minimizing cost increments by optimizing the transfer mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex discharge mechanism is used to handle varying lengths and orientations of rod-like bodies, then the discharge capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a complex mechanism to actively discharge rod-like bodies in various orientations, the invention inverts the approach by using gravity and a simple inclined chute to passively receive and orient the rods. The rod-like bodies are discharged horizontally from the processing unit, then naturally roll down the inclined chute to achieve vertical stacking, eliminating the need for complex discharge mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the rod-like bodies to self-orient and self-position through their own physical properties. As rods are discharged horizontally and contact the inclined chute, they naturally roll and orient themselves during descent, requiring no active control mechanisms. The gravity-driven process enables the material to service its own discharge and orientation requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If a simple chute is used to discharge rod-like bodies, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the control over discharge orientation and position is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoiddischarge control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined chute is designed with a specific angle and geometry that creates a controlled gravitational field. By optimizing the chute's inclination angle and surface properties, the system achieves consistent rod orientation and position control purely through gravitational force, without requiring additional actuators or control mechanisms. This equates the gravitational potential energy to the desired kinetic energy and orientation control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Adaptability or versatility

If rod-like bodies are discharged in various orientations, then the adaptability to different processing requirements is improved, but the stability of discharge posture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation varietyVSAvoiddischarge posture stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined chute is designed with asymmetric geometry that naturally guides rod-like bodies into a specific stable orientation during descent. The chute's cross-sectional shape and surface features create preferential contact points that cause rods to align in a consistent manner, transforming the unstable various orientations into a stable, repeatable discharge posture through asymmetric gravitational interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10105759B2Method and apparatus for producing a rod-like body

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 ASTEMO LTD

AI summary

The method includes a preprocessing transfer step which places an unprocessed rod-like body in a receiving position; a post-processing transfer step which pushes a processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body to a rail portion; a rail portion transfer step which pushes the processed rod-like body with the unprocessed rod-like body, and thus transfers the processed rod-like body while being guided by the rail portion; a withdrawing step which withdraws the processed rod-like body from the rail portion using a withdrawing unit; a detection step which detects that the processed rod-like body is transferred from the rail portion to the withdrawing unit; and a discharge step which discharges the processed rod-like body from the withdrawing unit in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the processed rod-like body.