Vibration Feeder Spring-Elastic Oscillation Arrangement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vibration conveyors face challenges in time-delayed controllability of mass flow due to irregular filling and design-related issues, leading to poor controllability and complex adjustment processes, especially with gravimetric and volumetric dosing.

Innovation Solution

A spring-elastic oscillation arrangement is integrated with the conveying element to maintain a constant throwing angle, allowing for quick regulation of mass flow and easy adjustment across various conveying elements, including long or elastic ones, by coordinating the oscillation arrangement to have a resonance frequency lower than the drive unit's operating frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional vibratory conveyor is used with a freely extending conveying element section, then the conveying element can be simple in structure and easy to manufacture, but the mass flow output exhibits time-delayed controllability and drifts constantly due to irregular filling and other influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying element structureVSAvoidmass flow controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibration arrangement (oscillation arrangement) that is spring-elasticly fixed to the conveying element. This vibration arrangement counteracts the unwanted bending vibrations of the freely extending section by generating opposing vibrations, thereby stabilizing the conveying element's position and improving mass flow controllability while maintaining the simple structure of the freely extending section

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Adaptability or versatility

If the conveying element has a freely extending section, then the conveying element can accommodate different materials and applications, but the throwing angle changes along the length of the conveying element causing local material accumulations and poor controllability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying element applicabilityVSAvoidthrowing angle consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration arrangement generates controlled vibrations that counteract the bending vibrations of the freely extending section, stabilizing the throwing angle along the conveying element's length. This ensures consistent material discharge characteristics while maintaining the adaptability of the freely extending section for different applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the spring-elastic mounting of the vibration arrangement, which allows for adjustment of the vibration characteristics. By changing the stiffness of the spring-elastic mounting or the mass of the vibration arrangement, the system can be tuned to compensate for different conveying element configurations and materials, maintaining throwing angle consistency across various applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the vibration arrangement has a resonance frequency lower than the drive unit's operating frequency, then the mass flow can be rapidly controlled, but the vibration arrangement requires precise frequency matching and tuning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass flow regulation speedVSAvoidvibration arrangement tuning
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration arrangement is designed with a resonance frequency lower than the drive unit's operating frequency, creating a phase difference that allows the vibration arrangement to counteract unwanted vibrations effectively. This frequency relationship enables rapid response in mass flow control while the spring-elastic mounting provides natural tuning capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-elastic mounting of the vibration arrangement allows the system to self-tune to the optimal vibration characteristics. The natural frequency of the spring-mass system automatically adjusts based on the mounting conditions and conveying element properties, reducing the need for manual tuning and complex adjustment procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 enables rapid and precise control of the mass flow, reducing changes in the throwing angle and minimizing material accumulation, thus improving controllability and simplifying the adjustment process.

Implementation Method 1

coordinating the oscillation arrangement to have a resonance frequency lower than the drive unit's operating frequency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

A spring-elastic oscillation arrangement is integrated with the conveying element to maintain a constant throwing angle, allowing for quick regulation of mass flow and easy adjustment across various conveying elements, including long or elastic ones, by coordinating the oscillation arrangement to have a resonance frequency lower than the drive unit's operating frequency.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase shift:

Implementation Method 3

A spring-elastic oscillation arrangement is integrated with the conveying element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3774603B1Vibration feeder
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 K TRON TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3774603B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3774603B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3774603B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a vibratory conveyor comprising a drive unit (4) that generates a vibration movement during operation, and a conveying element arranged on the drive unit, wherein the drive unit (4) comprises a support arrangement for the conveying element, which is mounted on a rear section (8a) on the carrier arrangement (5) and has a freely extending section (8b), anda spring-elastic vibration arrangement is provided on the front section (8b) of the conveying element (6), said vibration arrangement being arranged and designed in such a way that it oscillates with respect to the oscillation of the drive arrangement with phase displacement counter to the phase displacement of the conveying element.