Shaker Conveyor Assembly with Electronically Controllable Stroke Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shaker conveyors have complex and expensive mechanisms for reciprocating motion, making them difficult to manufacture and maintain, and require time-consuming adjustments for changing material loads due to fixed linkage designs or cam profiles, which limits their efficiency in handling different materials.
Innovation Solution
A shaker conveyor assembly with an electric drive system and control assembly that allows for electronically controllable stroke speeds by providing different power levels and durations during forward and reverse movements, enabling efficient tuning to various materials without physical reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional crankshafts or eccentrics with linkage arms are used to achieve reciprocating motion, then the shaker conveyor can provide satisfactory reciprocal motion, but the operating elements and linkages become complex and difficult to manufacture and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical linkage system (crankshafts, eccentrics, linkage arms) with a linear motor that directly generates reciprocating motion through electromagnetic forces. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical linkages while maintaining the reciprocating motion function, thereby reducing device complexity and improving reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed linkage arms or cam profiles are used to establish stroke speed, then the shaker conveyor structure is simplified, but speed adjustments for different material loads become time-consuming and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system where the linear motor's stroke speed can be electronically adjusted in real-time based on different material loads. The controller modifies operational parameters (voltage, frequency, duty cycle) to optimize stroke speed for various conveying conditions, enabling the system to adapt without physical reconfiguration while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the linear motor (voltage level, frequency, pulse width modulation duty cycle) to adjust stroke speed for different material loads. This parameter-based control allows the system to maintain structural simplicity while achieving high adaptability to various conveying requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional linkage arms are used with fixed attachment points, then the shaker conveyor provides stable operation, but tuning stroke speed for different materials requires replacing or relocating linkage points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical linkage system with fixed attachment points with an electronically controlled linear motor system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical reconfiguration or replacement of linkage components when adjusting stroke speed, thereby maintaining operational stability while dramatically reducing the time required to adapt to different material loads.
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 solution provides a simple, efficient, and adjustable conveyor system that can easily adapt to different materials, reducing maintenance costs and improving operational efficiency by allowing electronic control of stroke speeds.
Implementation Method 1
a linear motor adapted to provide repeated reciprocating motion in a first lineal direction and a second lineal direction opposite to the first lineal direction
Data Source
AI summary
A shaker conveyor assembly for moving objects includes a conveying element adapted for movement in first and second directions in repeated rectilinear fashion so as to convey items placed on the conveying element in one of the directions. The assembly includes an electric drive assembly having an output, a control assembly, and at least one sensor adapted to sense movement of the output. The control assembly provides a first level of electrical power to the electric drive assembly during a first portion of reciprocal movement and a second level of power to the electric drive assembly during a second portion of reciprocal movement. In addition, the control assembly provides selective control over the duration of the first and second portions of the reciprocal movement thereby controlling the speed of each of the directions of reciprocal movement of the conveying element.