Sorting Carousel With Support Crown Reduces Inertia

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tile sorting and stacking apparatuses require high electrical power due to their high moment of inertia, limiting productivity and increasing costs when trying to maintain satisfactory accelerations and decelerations.

Innovation Solution

The use of a support crown that minimizes the projection of carousel arms, allowing for lighter arms and reducing the moment of inertia, thereby decreasing electrical power consumption while maintaining performance or increasing productivity with the same amount of electrical power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of rotating arms is increased to reduce angular rotation required, then the sorting speed improves, but the weight and moment of inertia of the sorting carousel increases, leading to reduced accelerations and decelerations or increased electrical power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting speedVSAvoidmoment of inertia

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sorting carousel is segmented into a fixed support crown and multiple detachable carousel arms. The support crown remains stationary while only the individual carousel arms rotate, dividing the rotation function into separate modular components that can operate independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static support structure to a dynamic configuration where carousel arms can be selectively attached and detached from the support crown. This allows the moment of inertia to be dynamically adjusted by varying the number of arms present during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If high accelerations and decelerations are impressed on the sorting carousel to maintain satisfactory productivity, then the sorting speed improves, but the electrical power consumption increases extensively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting speedVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sorting carousel is segmented into a fixed support crown and multiple detachable carousel arms. The support crown remains stationary while only the individual carousel arms rotate, dividing the rotation function into separate modular components that can operate independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameters of the rotating mass by varying the number of carousel arms attached to the support crown. This allows optimization of the moment of inertia to match the required sorting speed, achieving high productivity with reduced energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If the projection of carousel arms is minimized by using a fixed support crown, then the moment of inertia decreases, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoment of inertiaVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sorting carousel is segmented into a fixed support crown and multiple detachable carousel arms. The support crown remains stationary while only the individual carousel arms rotate, dividing the rotation function into separate modular components that can operate independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support crown serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a mounting interface for carousel arms, and defines the rotation path. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, offsetting the increased structural complexity with design efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration reduces electrical power consumption and increases productivity by allowing for faster sorting and stacking of tiles with reduced energy usage.

Implementation Method 1

comprises a plurality of suction gripping units; and comprises a plurality of carousel arms which develop radially from the carousel axis, which are solidly constrained to one another

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS11702298B2Sorting apparatus for sorting and stacking tiles

Publication Date: 2023.07.18 SACMI TECH SPA

AI summary

An apparatus for sorting and stacking slab-shaped elements has an inlet line; plural suction gripping units; a sorting carousel rotatable around an axis and including multiple carousel arms mutually solidly constrained and each bearing a respective one of the plurality suction gripping units; a plurality of seats for receiving the slab-shaped elements, forming stacks thereof; and a support crown solidly constrained to a frame. The carousel axis and an axis of the support crown coincide with one another. Each carousel arm is supported by the support crown at or in proximity of a respective free end. A first slab-shaped element from the inlet line can be gripped by a first one of the suction gripping units, rotated by a first one of the carousel arms which bears the first suction gripping unit, and released by the first suction gripping unit on a first of the seats.