Combination Weighing Hopper and Chute Geometry for Rapid Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combination weighing apparatuses face challenges in discharging articles from hoppers to a collecting chute in a short time, leading to inefficiencies in packaging processes.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features hoppers with intersecting inner surfaces protruding outward and a collecting chute with corresponding receiving surfaces, ensuring uniform drop speed and collection of articles, which reduces spreading and facilitates smooth sliding, thereby enabling rapid discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If articles are discharged from multiple hoppers to a collecting chute, then packaging throughput is improved, but articles spread out and discharge time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hopper inner surfaces and chute receiving surfaces are designed with different local geometries - the hopper has surfaces protruding toward the centerline to collect articles, while the chute has surfaces protruding away from the centerline to receive and guide articles. This local quality differentiation ensures articles remain collected during transfer, preventing spread and maintaining rapid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses the spatial distribution problem by using three-dimensional surface protrusions rather than two-dimensional flat surfaces. The hopper's centerline-protruding surfaces and chute's opposite-protruding surfaces create a dimensional transition that guides articles through the transfer zone while maintaining their collected state, preventing lateral spread.
2Ease of manufacture
If hoppers use simple cylindrical shapes, then manufacturing is easy, but articles do not discharge rapidly and uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than changing the entire hopper geometry, only specific local regions (the inner surfaces near the discharge opening) are modified to protrude toward the centerline. This localized modification maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving article collection and discharge uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner surfaces of the hopper are designed with curved protrusions toward the centerline rather than sharp angles or flat surfaces. This curvature guides articles smoothly toward the discharge opening, ensuring uniform and rapid discharge while remaining manufacturable using standard forming processes.
3Productivity
If collecting chute has wide opening to receive articles, then article collection is improved, but articles spread out and discharge time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chute receiving surfaces feature localized protrusions away from the centerline at the opening region to capture articles, while the downstream portion maintains a narrower configuration. This local quality variation allows efficient article collection without causing spread during the discharge phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The chute is functionally segmented into a receiving zone with wider opening and protruding surfaces for article capture, and a discharge zone with narrower configuration for maintaining article collection. This segmentation allows the chute to perform both functions - wide opening for collection and narrow section for rapid discharge.
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 allows for efficient and rapid discharge of articles from the hoppers to the collecting chute, enhancing the packaging process by maintaining article collection and reducing friction, thus improving throughput.
Implementation Method 1
articles discharged from the plurality of hoppers while collecting the articles
Implementation Method 2
when the articles discharged from the hoppers reach the first receiving surface and the second receiving surface, a drop speed is made uniform at a center and both sides thereof
Implementation Method 3
a chute portion configured to receive the articles discharged from the plurality of hoppers and slide the articles
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A combination weighing apparatus includes a plurality of hoppers and a collecting chute. Each of the plurality of hoppers has a main body provided with a first opening and a second opening, and a gate allowed to be opened and closed with respect to the second opening. The main body is provided with a first inner surface and a second inner surface having an intersecting positional relationship to protrude outward with respect to the centerline. The collecting chute has at least a chute portion configured to receive articles discharged from the plurality of hoppers and slide the articles. A portion of the chute portion located below the plurality of hoppers is provided with a first receiving surface and a second receiving surface having an intersecting positional relationship to protrude outward with respect to the centerline.