Stacking Magazine Asymmetric Support Gravity Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stacking magazines for flat piece goods, such as folded bags or tubes, face challenges with asymmetrical thicknesses leading to uneven stacking and reduced capacity due to complex designs and the need for adaptable drum-like curvatures, which complicates the gravity conveyance process.
Innovation Solution
A magazine shaft with stationary support structures arranged in tiers on opposite sides, allowing for one-sided support of piece goods, enabling efficient gravity conveyance of both symmetrical and asymmetrical flat materials by inclining them as they move up, with the thicker ends guided on one shaft boundary and thinner ends supported on the other, allowing for floor-by-floor retention and sliding off into lower levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drum-shaped magazine shaft with curved shaft walls is used to guide thicker bag bottoms, then asymmetrical items can be conveyed, but the device complexity increases and capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing support structures on only one shaft boundary rather than symmetrically on both boundaries. This asymmetric configuration allows the thicker ends of asymmetrical items to be supported while the thinner ends can tilt and slide, enabling handling of asymmetrical items without complex drum-shaped curved walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the shaft boundaries into different functional zones: one boundary has support structures for holding items, while the opposite boundary is smooth for sliding. This segmentation of functions replaces the need for a complex curved drum shape with simpler straight boundaries having different surface characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If support structures are added to handle asymmetrical items, then conveying capability improves, but the number of moving components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structures are designed to be stationary and self-adjusting. As items are removed from the magazine, gravity automatically causes the next items to tilt and slide forward without requiring any moving components or active control systems. The system serves itself through the inherent gravitational force acting on the asymmetrical item configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using moving components to actively push or convey items forward, the patent inverts the approach by using stationary support structures that allow items to passively slide forward under gravity when the support is removed or when space becomes available. The conveying action is inverted from active to passive.
3Ease of manufacture
If straight chutes are used for stacking, then construction is simple, but asymmetrical items tilt and stack height is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains simple straight chute construction overall but introduces local quality variations by adding support structures at specific locations on one shaft boundary. This localized modification allows asymmetrical items to be properly supported and stacked to greater heights without requiring the entire chute to be complex or curved.
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 design allows for increased capacity, simpler construction, and reduced complexity in operation, enabling reliable gravity conveyance of piece goods with varying thickness and flexibility, preventing sagging and ensuring efficient stacking and removal without the need for moving components or complex controls.
Implementation Method 1
stacking magazine for storing and gravity conveying of unit loads made of flat material
Implementation Method 2
the thicker ends of the items can rest against the support structures on one side. As the stack advances, the thinner ends resting on the support structures are initially held in place and eventually slide off automatically
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A stacking magazine and a method for storing and conveying flat material by gravity are described. The magazine shaft (2) comprises an upper opening (4) for feeding the flat material in stacks, a lower opening (5) for removing the flat material, and at least two opposing lateral shaft boundaries (6, 7) between them for guiding the flat material. By providing support structures (8, 14) arranged one above the other in tiers and projecting into the magazine shaft on at least one of the shaft boundaries to support the flat material on one side, the flat material can be easily held alternately against the support structures and advanced tier by tier.