Transport Wheel Reject Ejection via Cam Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport devices with pneumatic ejection cylinders or vacuum wheels for removing rejected goods are complex, expensive, and prone to contamination or damage, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, where they can lead to issues like blockages and glass breakage.
Innovation Solution
A compact and cost-effective transport device with a single transport wheel, a checking device, a reject outlet, and an ejector finger that uses a cam disk and gear train for simple and robust ejection of rejected goods, eliminating the need for vacuum supply and reducing the risk of contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic ejection cylinders are provided for each object receptacle, then rejected goods can be removed, but the mechanical engineering outlay becomes high and the structure becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ejection functions are merged into a single ejector finger that serves all object receptacles on the transport wheel. Instead of having separate pneumatic cylinders for each receptacle, one ejector finger sequentially ejects rejected goods from different receptacles as they pass by, significantly reducing the number of mechanical components required.
Solution Approach 2:
The single ejector finger performs the universal function of ejecting rejected goods from any object receptacle on the transport wheel. This multi-functional element replaces multiple specialized ejection devices, simplifying the overall system while maintaining the capability to handle rejects from all positions.
2Reliability
If vacuum wheels are used to suck in rejected goods, then rejects can be transferred to a reject ejector, but the system becomes very susceptible to contamination or glass breakage which can damage suction cups or block vacuum lines
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum-based mechanical system is replaced with a purely mechanical contactless ejection system. The ejector finger uses controlled mechanical movement to nudge rejected goods out of their receptacles, eliminating the need for vacuum lines, suction cups, and associated sealing mechanisms that are vulnerable to contamination and breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The vulnerable vacuum system components (suction cups, vacuum lines) are extracted and removed from the system entirely. Only the essential transport wheel and a simple ejector finger remain, eliminating the parts that are susceptible to damage from glass breakage and contamination.
3Device complexity
If a single transport wheel is used with separate good outlet and bad outlet, then a compact and simply constructed ejection device can be provided, but the spatial arrangement becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection system utilizes the temporal dimension by having a single ejector finger serve multiple receptacles sequentially as they rotate past the ejection point. This transforms a potentially complex spatial arrangement into a simple temporal sequence, allowing one ejection mechanism to handle all rejects without requiring multiple ejection points around the wheel.
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
The solution provides a robust, low-maintenance, and contamination-resistant ejection system that effectively removes rejected goods without compressed air, minimizing the risk of particle whirl and ensuring reliable operation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Implementation Method 1
The ejection device comprises a cam disk which can be rotated and which is in contact with a cam lever connected to the ejection element in order to move the ejection element
Implementation Method 2
the cam disc can be driven via a gear train. More preferably, a gear wheel of the gear train is arranged in such a way that it rotates together with the transport wheel
Implementation Method 3
The lifting device can then be used to engage or disengage the gear wheel rotating together with the transport wheel
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a transport apparatus for conveying goods (4), comprising a rotatably mounted transport wheel (2), which has a plurality of bags (3) arranged on an outer circumference for receiving the goods (4) to be conveyed, an inlet region (5) in which the goods (4) are fed to the transport wheel (2), an outlet region (6) in which the goods (4) are led out of the transport wheel (2), an inspection device (8) which inspects the goods (4) in order to identify rejected goods, a reject outlet (7) to discharge rejected goods, a pushing device (10) having a pushing element (11) to push rejected goods into the reject outlet (7), and a control unit (9) that is connected to the inspection device (8) and the pushing device (10) in order to activate the pushing element (11) when rejectedgoods are detected and to push the rejected goods into thereject outlet (7).