Rotary Feeder Mechanism for Stringer Notcher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stringer notching machines in the pallet industry face inefficiencies in the speed of operation due to the limitations of traditional reciprocating board feeders, which hinder the production speed and are prone to wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A rotary feeder mechanism utilizing opposing pusher arms mounted on a drive shaft with eccentrics and control links, allowing for alternating and uniform feeding of stringers onto a work table, maintaining engagement through rounded ends and rotational motion, thereby increasing the speed and durability of the feeding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional reciprocating board feeder is used to move boards from the magazine onto the work table, then the structure is simple, but the feeding speed is slow and production efficiency is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a rotary drive shaft with eccentrics that rotate continuously, creating periodic reciprocating motion in the pusher arms. This periodic action allows multiple feeding cycles per rotation, increasing feeding speed while using a compact rotary mechanism rather than a complex multi-component reciprocating system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static reciprocating motion into a dynamic rotary system where the drive shaft rotates continuously and the pusher arms dynamically engage and disengage from boards. The rounded ends of pusher arms provide smooth dynamic engagement, reducing wear and enabling faster operation compared to traditional rigid reciprocating feeders
2Productivity
If a reciprocating board feeder operates at higher speeds to increase production, then productivity improves, but wear and tear on the mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher arms are designed with rounded ends that smoothly engage with the boards. This curved geometry distributes contact forces over a larger area and reduces impact shocks during engagement and disengagement, significantly reducing wear and tear while enabling higher operating speeds and improved reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded ends of the pusher arms act as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs impact forces during board engagement. This preliminary cushioning prevents shock loads that would otherwise cause wear and failure, allowing the mechanism to operate at higher speeds with improved durability
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 rotary feeder mechanism significantly enhances the speed of stringer feeding, reduces wear, and ensures consistent engagement with the notching mechanism, making the process more efficient and cost-effective while maintaining ease of assembly and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The opposing pusher arms are mounted on eccentrics on opposite sides of the drive shaft axis
Implementation Method 2
the pusher arms have rounded ends engagable with the stringers being pushed toward the notching mechanism
Implementation Method 3
each pusher arm is supported by a control link connected to the pusher arm between the rounded end and the eccentric mounting the pusher arm to the drive shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary feeder mechanism is provided for a stringer notcher wherein the feeder includes opposing pairs of pusher arms with one pusher arm of each pair being located on opposing sides of a magazine holding a vertically stacked supply of stringers to uniformly move the lowermost stringer onto a work table. The opposing pusher arms are eccentrically mounted on opposite sides of a rotary drive shaft. A control link is connected to each pusher arm to maintain the orientation of the distal ends of the pusher arms in a selected orientation during rotational movement. As one pusher arm moves a stringer onto the work table, the next vertically stacked stringer rests on the top surface of the stringer to be eased onto the bottom of the magazine as the pusher arm retracts below the level of the work table for the opposing pusher arm to then engage the next stringer.