Rotating Plate Object Separator Using Asymmetrical Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibrating bowl systems used for individualizing small objects are noisy, difficult to control, lack versatility, and often malfunction, especially with high-precision or fragile parts, and can be affected by foreign objects leading to jamming, which affects the quality and surface condition of the parts.
Innovation Solution
A device with a receiving surface featuring radial ribs or a circular stepped structure that uses asymmetrical vibration and a robotic gripping unit with a camera and linear arm to orient and grasp objects efficiently, reducing noise and increasing versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vibrating bowl system is used to individualize small objects, then the objects can be transported and oriented, but the system generates considerable noise due to permanent vibration and clashing between parts and bowl
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful vibration function from the bowl structure and transfers it to a separate drive mechanism. The bowl becomes a passive receiving surface while the drive mechanism (eccentric rotor or cam mechanism) provides controlled motion, eliminating the noise-generating clashing between parts and bowl that occurs in traditional vibrating bowl systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical vibration system with an alternative mechanism. Instead of using a vibrating bowl where parts clash against the bowl walls, the invention uses a drive mechanism that imparts motion to parts through controlled mechanical interaction, reducing noise while maintaining individualization capability.
2Reliability
If a vibrating bowl is designed for a specific object to guarantee correct routing, then routing is reliable, but the bowl becomes inoperative for other objects, reducing versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal individualization device where the bowl can handle multiple object types. The drive mechanism is designed to work with various geometries and sizes of parts, allowing the same device to individualize different objects without requiring bowl redesign. This achieves multi-functionality while maintaining reliable routing through controlled mechanical interaction.
3Productivity
If vibrations are applied to transport objects in a vibrating bowl, then objects can be individualized, but the vibrations and clashing can alter the quality and surface condition of high-precision or fragile parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of mechanical interaction into a beneficial one. Instead of using violent vibrations that cause clashing and surface damage, the drive mechanism uses controlled mechanical interaction to guide and orient parts. This gentle approach maintains surface quality while still achieving individualization through controlled motion and positioning.
4Ease of operation
If a robotic arm with vibrating membrane is used to move and individualize parts, then parts can be moved, but the process is slow and does not allow high-rate feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous individualization through the rotating bowl mechanism. While the bowl rotates and drives parts along its perimeter, the robotic arm continuously picks up individualized parts and transports them to the output. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between individualization steps, achieving high feeding rates while maintaining precise part positioning through the controlled rotational motion.
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 device is compact, easy to clean, generates minimal noise, and is versatile, ensuring reliable and fast individualization of small objects without damaging them, and can be easily adapted for different types of objects.
Implementation Method 1
a platter drive motor for rotating the platter to move the objects by centrifugal force in direction of the peripheral edge
Implementation Method 2
the bowl has in its center a zone for receiving loose objects. From the center, such a bowl comprises a helical ramp making it possible, by vibrations, to convey the parts one by one out of the bowl
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for separating small loose objects (3), including: a plate (15) for receiving loose objects (3), the plate (15) including a peripheral retaining edge (17) and a receiving surface (19) which is higher at the edge than toward the centre (21) of the plate (15), the receiving surface (19) of the plate (15) being sloped from the peripheral edge (17) toward the centre (21) of the plate (15) and having a structure (23) for orienting the objects, a motor (29) for, on the one hand, rotatably driving the plate (15) such as to move the objects (3) toward the peripheral edge (17) by means of centrifugal force, and for, on the other hand, vibrating the plate, and a robotised unit (31) for gripping the objects (3).