Suction Device for Selective Product Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for selectively separating products from a conveyor track using a suction device often result in a subsequent product being inadvertently sucked off due to insufficient suction duration, leading to unreliable separation and potential disruption in the conveyor process.

Innovation Solution

The method extends the suction duration if a subsequent product also needs to be separated, ensuring uninterrupted suction and reliable removal of the second product, while minimizing disruption to subsequent products that do not meet the control criterion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the suction duration is extended to reliably extract the first product, then the reliability of product extraction is improved, but the subsequent second product is accelerated towards the suction device and may be inadvertently extracted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of product extractionVSAvoidunintended acceleration and extraction of subsequent product
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction process is divided into two distinct phases: a first suction phase targeting the first product, and a second suction phase targeting the second product. This segmentation allows the system to reliably extract the first product while then focusing suction force on the accelerated second product, preventing unintended extraction of subsequent products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of multiple products before the suction process begins. By identifying both the first product to be extracted and the subsequent second product in advance, the control device can pre-calculate the optimal suction duration that accounts for the acceleration effect on the second product, ensuring reliable extraction without unintended consequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the suction duration is reduced to avoid accelerating the subsequent product, then the harmful effect on subsequent products is minimized, but the first product cannot be reliably extracted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration of subsequent productVSAvoidextraction reliability of first product
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction duration is dynamically adjusted based on the detected positions and distances of multiple products. Rather than using a fixed suction duration, the system calculates an optimized duration that varies with product spacing, allowing reliable extraction of the first product while adapting to the specific configuration of subsequent products to minimize harmful acceleration effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the suction duration parameter based on real-time product detection data. By monitoring the distance between the first product and subsequent products, the control device adjusts the suction duration parameter to achieve optimal extraction reliability for the first product while maintaining acceptable limits on acceleration of subsequent products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the distance between products is small, then conveyor efficiency is improved, but the suction flow cannot reliably target individual products without affecting adjacent products

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor efficiencyVSAvoidselective product extraction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from product detection devices to continuously monitor product positions and distances. This feedback enables the control device to calculate and adjust the optimal suction duration for each extraction event, ensuring reliable selective extraction even when products are closely spaced. The feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying product configurations in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and calculation of optimal suction parameters before initiating the suction process. By identifying the positions of multiple products in advance and pre-calculating the appropriate suction duration, the system can reliably target individual products even when they are closely spaced, maintaining both productivity and extraction reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach allows for reliable separation of subsequent products without interrupting the suction process, enabling earlier termination of suction and reducing unwanted influence on subsequent products, thus maintaining conveyor efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a suction flow flowing away from the conveyor belt is generated for a predetermined suction duration in order to extract the product from the conveyor belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3840895B1Method for selective removal of rippling products
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 DICKFELD NILS
  • EP3840895B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3840895B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a method for selectively sorting out flowable products (2, 2', 2"), which are conveyed in a groove-type conveying track (4) in a conveying direction (3) along a conveying path (1), the conveyed products (2, 2', 2") are checked by a checking unit (6) in a checking section (5) of the conveying path (1). In a sorting-out section (7) arranged downstream along the conveying path (1), the product (2, 2') that does not fulfill a predefinable check criterion is sorted out and removed from the conveying track (4) by a suction device (8), wherein the suction device (8) is arranged on the conveying path (1) and a suction flow flowing out of the conveying track (4) is generated for a predefined suction duration in order to suction the product (2, 2') out of the conveying track (4). According to the invention, the checking unit (5) checks whether the first product (2) to be sorted out is followed by a second product (2') that does not fulfill the predefined check criterion and should therefore be sorted out. In this case, the suction duration is extended by a predefinable extension duration in order to also suction the following second product (2') out of the conveying track (4) in an uninterrupted manner.