Sheet Product Supply Device with Sensor-Based Grip and Reverse Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet product supplying apparatuses often fail to consistently supply sheet products one by one due to variations in friction force between materials, leading to simultaneous supply of multiple products.
Innovation Solution
A sheet product supplying apparatus with an additional conveyor and a control device that detects the front end of the first sheet product, grips it between the feeding conveyor and the additional conveyor, reverses the feeding conveyor to separate subsequent products, and then drives the additional conveyor to supply the first sheet product, ensuring sequential delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If friction force is used to separate sheet products on the conveyor, then the uppermost sheet product can be moved forward in advance, but the separation is unreliable because friction force varies with material properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based mechanical separation system with a sensor-based detection and control system. Optical sensors detect the position of sheet products, and a PLC controller coordinates the feeding conveyor and additional conveyor to achieve reliable separation, eliminating dependence on variable friction forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor the position of sheet products on the conveyor, and the PLC controller adjusts the operation of conveyors based on this real-time information to ensure proper separation and prevent simultaneous supply of multiple products.
2Reliability
If an additional conveyor is added to grip and separate sheet products, then reliable sequential supply is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The additional conveyor serves multiple functions: it grips the leading edge of sheet products, separates them from the stack, and supplies them individually to the processing position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the feeding conveyor is reversed to separate subsequent sheet products, then simultaneous supply is prevented, but the operation cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding conveyor operates in periodic cycles: forward motion to feed sheet products, reversal to separate them, and stopping to allow the additional conveyor to supply individual products. This periodic operation ensures reliable sequential supply while optimizing the timing to minimize cycle time losses.
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
Ensures that sheet products are supplied one by one, preventing simultaneous supply by maintaining grip force and controlling the movement of subsequent products to prevent them from being supplied with the first product.
Implementation Method 1
a front end of a first sheet product is detected by a sensor when the first sheet product reaches or exceeds an downstream end of the additional conveyor
Implementation Method 2
The friction force is generated between the additional belt and the uppermost wrapper, and it is higher than friction force between the uppermost wrapper and the next wrapper
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A first sheet product 1 is gripped between an additional conveyor 2 and a feeding conveyor 3 at a downstream end of the additional conveyor 2. Subsequently, subsequent sheet products 1 are moved back by the feeding conveyor 3 to be separated from the first sheet product 1. Subsequently, the first sheet product 1 is supplied by the additional conveyor 2.