Transfer System With Adjustable Rotator Speeds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current transfer systems lack flexibility in managing the flow of items, such as parts of simulated smoking devices, between transfer devices, leading to inefficiencies in receiving and discharging processes.

Innovation Solution

A transfer system comprising a first transfer device, a second transfer device, and a buffer device with rotatable buffer rotators along movable axes, allowing for adjustable transfer speeds to control the number of items in the buffer, enabling flexible operation modes such as continuous or intermittent item reception and discharge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the transfer system uses fixed transfer axes and fixed transfer speeds, then the system structure is simple, but the flexibility in controlling item flow and buffer inventory is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in controlling item flowVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the buffer axes movable along predetermined trajectories instead of fixed. The buffer rotators can move along circular trajectories defined by centers coinciding with the transfer axes, allowing the system to dynamically adjust buffer positions and transfer speeds to control item flow flexibility while managing structural complexity through guided motion paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the transfer system uses movable buffer axes along predetermined trajectories, then the flexibility in item flow control is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in receiving and discharging itemsVSAvoidbuffer device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs spheroidality by defining buffer trajectories as circular paths with centers coinciding with the transfer axes. This curved trajectory design allows buffer rotators to move in predetermined circular motions, providing flexible item flow control while the geometric regularity of circular paths simplifies the guidance mechanism compared to arbitrary complex curves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Ease of operation

If the transfer system adjusts transfer speeds of rotators, then the control over buffer inventory is improved, but the complexity of speed control mechanisms increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol over number of items in bufferVSAvoidspeed adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the transfer speeds of the first and second rotators as controllable variables. By varying the rotational speeds of these rotators, the system can control the number of items in the buffer device, allowing flexible inventory management through speed parameter adjustment rather than complex mechanical interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3359475B1Transfer system for transferring items
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 VAN DER SLUIS CIGAR MACHINERY BV
  • EP3359475B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3359475B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3359475B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Transfer system (1) for transferring items (2), which transfer system comprises a first transfer device (3) for receiving the items (2), a second transfer device (4) for discharging the items (2), and a buffer device (5) for buffering items (2) between the first transfer device (3) and the second transfer device (4), wherein the first transfer device (3) comprises a first transfer rotator (6) and the second transfer device (4) comprises a second transfer rotator (11) and the transfer system (1) is configured to adjust at least one of a first transfer speed (Vt1) of the first transfer rotator (6) and a second transfer speed (Vt2) of the second transfer rotator (11).