Granulated Substance Feeding System with Winnowing Feedback Control
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding systems for granulated substances, such as shredded tobacco, face challenges in quickly and automatically adjusting the amount of sub-standard product discharged during the manufacturing of cigarettes, as the target value for this discharge varies by cigarette brand, requiring a system that can efficiently control the winnowed amount.
Innovation Solution
A feeding system that includes a separation device for distinguishing between good and sub-standard products through winnowing, an adjustment device to control airflow velocity, a weighing device to sample and weigh sub-standard products, and a controller to adjust airflow based on the weighing results to achieve the target discharge amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of winnowed amount is used, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different cigarette brands and response speed to target value changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback control by measuring the actual winnowed amount and comparing it with the target value, then adjusting the airflow velocity accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to different cigarette brands and target values automatically, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of the winnowed amount through automatic control based on measured values and target values. The controller automatically adjusts the airflow velocity without manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in adapting to different production requirements, thus improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Speed
If manual adjustment of winnowed amount is used, then device complexity is reduced, but response speed to target value changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time feedback control system continuously monitors the winnowed amount and immediately adjusts the airflow velocity when target value changes occur. This automatic feedback mechanism enables rapid response to target value changes without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between response speed and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control. The controller electronically adjusts the airflow velocity based on measured values and target values, eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustments and thereby improving response speed while introducing controlled system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If airflow velocity is not precisely controlled, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision of winnowed amount deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control to precisely control the winhowed amount by continuously measuring it and adjusting the airflow velocity based on the difference between measured and target values. This feedback mechanism achieves high manufacturing precision while managing control system complexity through automated control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves precise control of the winhowed amount by dynamically adjusting the airflow velocity parameter. The controller modifies this physical parameter based on measured values and target values, enabling precise control of the separation process while maintaining reasonable system complexity through focused parameter management.
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 system allows for rapid and precise control of the sub-standard product discharge amount to meet target values, improving the efficiency and adaptability of the feeding process across different cigarette brands.
Implementation Method 1
separate the granulated substance into a good product and a substandard product heavier than the good product by separation through winnowing
Implementation Method 2
adjusting a flow velocity of a sorting airflow to be used for the separation through winnowing
Implementation Method 3
perform weighing of a sampling weight of the substandard product and output of a weighing result of the weighing
Data Source
AI summary
This system is for implementing a method for feeding of a granulated substance, and is provided with: a feeding path through which cut tobacco is fed toward a tobacco band in a cigarette manufacturing machine; a separation device for separating, by winnowing, the cut tobacco into good products and sub-standard products that are heavier than the good products, in the process of feeding the cut tobacco; an adjustment device that is capable of directly and/or indirectly adjusting the velocity of a current of air used for separation through winnowing; a transfer path which receives and transfers the sub-standard products discharged from the separation device; a weighing device which takes a sample of the sub-standard products being transferred on the transfer path and measures the weight of the sampled sub-standard products and outputs the weighing result; and a controller which, on the basis of the weighing result, controls the operation of the adjustment device so as to bring the sampling weight equal to a target value being the management standard.