Feeding Mechanism Research Articles

Design and analysis of mechanical mechanism of cold-forming equipment for marine profiles

Abstract For the existing cold bending machine with complex structure, low automation, and poor motion accuracy. A cold-forming machine that can be used for cold-forming processing of ship profiles is designed in this paper. Firstly, the general structure of the equipment is described. Secondly, the key mechanical structures, such as the guiding mechanism, the feeding mechanism, and the cold bending mechanism, are explained. Finally, the finite element models of key components were mechanically analyzed. The results show that the mechanical structure design proposed in this paper not only meets the mechanical design requirements needed for the system but also can effectively prevent the profile from slipping during the feeding process and achieve highly accurate automatic cold bending processing of the profile.

Growth–feeding linkage in small pelagic fish larvae in the Kii Channel, Japan

AbstractThe linkage between growth rate and feeding success has been shown to strengthen the effects of early growth rate on later growth rate in the early life history of fish. However, the growth–feeding linkage largely remains to be tested at the individual level within the same populations/cohorts. We examined the growth–feeding linkage for multiple populations/cohorts in Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus larvae and Pacific round herring Etrumeus micropus larvae, through otolith microstructure analysis, based on samples collected from the commercial fishery for larval fish in the Kii Channel, Japan. The three growth–feeding mechanisms, which are based on the respective potential advantages of larger somatic size, higher growth rate, and earlier morphological development for achieving feeding success, were tested to understand how growth rate relates to feeding success. The “somatic size” mechanism was supported for all of six samples for anchovy larvae and three of four samples for round herring larvae. The “growth rate” mechanism was supported for two of six samples for anchovy larvae and three of four samples for round herring larvae. The “morphological development” mechanism was supported for three of four samples for anchovy larvae and all of three samples for round herring larvae. Overall, the present analysis supported the growth–feeding linkage but revealed the dynamics of the growth–feeding mechanisms. All the mechanisms were shown to operate at least for certain populations/cohorts, but none of them were universally effective over all populations/cohorts across the two species. Understanding the dynamics of the growth–feeding mechanisms would provide precious hints for considering strategies of predicting recruitment dynamics.

Structural adaptations of the beak and oropharyngeal cavity roof in migratory Anas crecca: Distinctive scanning electron microscopic pattern of its filter feeding apparatus

There is insufficient data about the migratory duck Anas crecca, especially the beak and oropharyngeal cavity roof. This study aimed to characterize the beak and palatine adaptations and relate the morphological features with the species-specific feeding behavior of A. crecca collected near Lake Nasser (Egypt). Our study was carried out with the help of gross, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and morphometric analysis. The lower median papillary teeth-like region corresponded to the lower papillary region in terms of food particle capture. The serrated gnathotheca surface exhibited transverse, wedge-like, cap-like, and serrated border-like processes. The lower mandibular space had four spaces: the rostral smooth, the middle folded, the long sublingual, and the caudal sublaryngeal space. The palate showed two major regions, the rostral long beak (beak nail, middle part, and the caudal papillary part) and the connecting region. The choana consists of the rostral narrow part, which has rostral non-papillated and caudal papillated parts, and the caudal papillated wide part, which has three papillary rows. The infundibular plate had numerous small papillae and sphenopterygoid salivary gland openings. Functionally, the beak plays an important role in the sieving filter feeding mechanism, and the palate is involved in the fixation of the captured food particles inside the oral cavity. Consequently, beak and palate structures exhibit anatomical adaptations for efficiently filtering feeding mechanisms.

Development of concurrent multi wire feed mechanism for WAAM-TIG to enhance process efficiency

A novel multi wire feed mechanism has been introduced and investigated for tungsten-inert-gas-based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM-TIG) method to minimise the dependency of wire feed direction. The concurrent three wire feed mechanism mounted 120° apart around the TIG torch was developed by employing three independent wire feeders, and an integrated effect of front-back-side feeding minimised the dependency of the wire feeding direction on the deposited bead. The mechanism was compared with the single wire feed, and geometrical uniformity, material deposition rate and overall specific energy requirements were found to improve by ∼26%, ∼66% and ∼56%, respectively, with good arc-stability.

Conceptualization and development of a semi-automatic vegetable transplanter prototype for small landholdings

The process of seedling transplantation has significant importance within the realm of mechanical vegetable production in contemporary agriculture. A prototype of a two-row tractor-mounted semi-automatic vegetable seedling transplanter (SVT) was conceptualized and developed for small agricultural holdings. The functional behaviour of the prototype was examined with computer-aided design tools, and the various units of the prototype have been finalized. To develop the prototype, the feeding, metering, transplanting, drive train, and soil compacting/covering unit of the machine were developed and constructed using materials readily accessible locally. The machine has a set row-to-row spacing of 600 mm, and it may alter the plant-to-plant spacing when the machine's forward speed changes. The pace was customized to achieve the required 450 mm plant-to-plant spacing. A 12:1 speed reduction gearbox was used for the proper metering of seedlings. The effect of independent factors, namely tray cell type, feeding mechanism, soil covering/compacting wheel angle, and age of seedling, on the machine's actual field capacity (AFC) was examined. The prototype underwent preliminary field testing to assess the functional viability, and the functioning was satisfactory. The main effect of the feeding mechanism and soil covering/compacting wheel angle on AFC was statistically significant at 5 % for tomato and brinjal whereas their first-order interaction was found statistically significant on AFC for tomatoes. The findings demonstrate that this study's prototype can be marketed or used to further vegetable production studies.

Continuous production machine for separating and shaping Taiping Houkui tea.

In response to the challenges of low automation and a lack of a continuous processing system for Taiping Houkui tea, this study proposed a design scheme for a continuous processing line and built a continuous processing prototype for testing by combining the production requirements of Taiping Houkui tea, the characteristics of withered leaves, and the existing relevant production equipment. First, the physical properties of Taiping Houkui tea were determined. A simulation was performed using the Hertz-Mindlin model, and the motion states of the tea leaves were obtained under different conditions to define the parameter design range of the experimental platform and verify its structural rationality. Then, the response surface methodology was used to optimize the working parameter ranges and obtain the best working parameters for the feeding and kneading mechanisms. Finally, a continuous production prototype was constructed for further production verification. The experimental results show that the success rate of continuous production on this platform was 70.68%, with an average output of approximately 0.4kg/h for Taiping Houkui dry tea on a single slide track, and the produced tea was similar to manually made tea. This demonstrates that the continuous production technique has high feasibility and provides a reference for continuous production of Taiping Houkui tea.

Recent development in feeding mechanism of sheet metal shearing machine for productivity improvement: A review

Sheet metal working processes find extensive applications in industries such as automobile and aerospace. However, the sharp edges of sheet metal pose a safety hazard to workers, potentially leading to injuries. In response to this concern, we have conceived and developed an automatic sheet metal cutting machine. Feeding mechanism is one of the important part of sheet metal shearing machine. In this paper, recent research papers are reviewed. This papers also reports recent development in feeding mechanism and its role for productivity improvement. Also, proposed innovative feeding mechanism represents a pivotal advancement in the field of mechanical workshops, aligning with industry demands for increased productivity and safety in sheet metal processing. Paper throws lights on benefits of automation into the sheet metal cutting process, which a significantly reduces in labour costs while ensuring precise and efficient cutting operations. Paper also focuses the various parameter such as cutting speed, material properties.

Design of transmission mechanism of punch feeding and discharging manipulator

The press loading and unloading manipulator is a kind of intelligent equipment based on automation, which is specially developed for realizing the automation and unmanned production of the press shop. It can replace the worker’s work by implementing the manual editing program and greatly improve the efficiency of production and quality. The design optimized the traditional transmission scheme comparison and molded the structure based on the solid works modeling. The key supporting parts of the manipulator are analyzed by the finite element method. The simulation results showed that the manipulator can satisfy the designed loading requirements and guarantee the designed accuracy.

Design and simulation of eco-friendly smartphone controlled forklift

The recent revolution in industrial technology increased the demand for unmanned forklifts that can be operated remotely. Unmanned forklifts eliminate the effort needed to train a highly qualified operator and reduce the accident rate due to driver fatigue. Currently, the operation of forklifts depends on either hydraulic systems or gasoline which has a negative impact on the environment. The increased awareness of the environmental threats urged the manufacturers to replace conventional forklifts with electrical ones. Unmanned electrical forklifts have a high cost that is considered a burden for developing countries, especially when being used in small warehouses. Thus, this paper presents an innovative approach for designing a semi-automated eco-friendly forklift suitable for small warehouses operated using a smartphone application. The forklift is designed to lift a maximum load of 200 N using a ball screw feed mechanism, characterized by its light weight and its ability to withstand corrosion. The structural stability of the forklift has been investigated using SolidWorks simulation. The designed model has been imported to MATLAB Simulink to estimate the suitable battery size required for forklifts’ operation in addition to calculating the total energy consumed during one complete work cycle. It is found that only 6.7 % of the energy is dissipated which promotes the energy-saving capabilities of the designed forklift.

Design and analysis of SRR based metamaterial loaded circular patch multiband antenna for satellite applications

Satellite communication has reached a turning point in transmitting data quickly and receiving signals clearly in faraway places. This paper presents a metamaterial-based antenna for distant and military applications that overcomes restrictions and performs unmatched. This project explores metamaterials to create a unique antenna. Expect to be astounded by its power to bend electromagnetic waves, miniaturize, and change our relationship with the universe. The feeding mechanism of this antenna is a modified co-planar waveguide. At 5.6 GHz, the proposed antenna unit cell measures 0.076λ0×0.2λ0, making it small thanks to its MTM characteristic. CP radiation is made when two orthogonally polarized modes are stimulated at the same time and two composite right- and left-handed transmission line unit cells are placed orthogonally. Reduced size, increased bandwidth, and improved Learn how this discovery opens new doors for high-resolution photography, broadband internet, and space exploration. One nanostructure that makes up a metamaterial is the Split Ring Resonator (SRR). SRR dimensions must be smaller than the resonance wavelength, making them crucial for near-infrared and optical responses. This effort examined nanoscale SRR characteristics in the infrared and visible ranges. SRRs composed of aluminum (Al) and gold (Au) were produced on silicon and silica substrates using electron beam lithography (EBL). The proposed structure consists of a microstrip-line-supplied SRR, a parasitic patch that is perpendicular to the ground plane, and two via holes connected by two split rings that feed the patch indirectly. Choosing the right material parameter for all such antennas depends on the planned structure. Fabrication and testing of the antenna matched simulations. Dimensions: 23.7 mm × 16.2 mm × 1.6 mm; substrate dielectric constant: 4.4. Experimental data are detailed and compared to analytical calculations. Simulation results show that metamaterials have negative permittivity and permeability in a certain frequency range, which can be predicted by an analytical method. Simulations indicated eight BRS, WiMAX, radar, and mobile phone resonance frequencies. Radiation is dipole-like in the omnidirectional in the H-plane and E-plane. 10 dB return loss and 3 dB axial ratio bandwidths are 38.6.7% and 8.1%, respectively.

Performance Improvement of Flow Rate of Spiral Chip Feeder in Domestic Cattle Manure monitor Making Machine

The abstract outlines a study focused on the stability and effectiveness of a screw feeding mechanism designed for the outlet of pulping material in a screw reactor. This reactor functions as a continuous system where material is transported and mixed by a screw (augur). The study emphasizes the importance of operational conditions in influencing the process outcomes. To efficiently understand and optimize the system, the researchers employed modelling techniques, which are often quicker and more cost-effective than conducting experiments. The paper provides a comprehensive list of modelling approaches, both validated by experiments and theoretical, that is applicable to various aspects of screw reactor operation. Additionally, the study delves into new product development, specifically shaping a conical screw feeding reactor along with its shaft and flights design. A crucial aspect analyzed is the radial force effect on the flight surface during spiral rotation. Structural engineering techniques were employed to ensure the sustainability of the design, with validation results confirming its effectiveness. Keywords: Screw, Radial Force, Pulping Material

ELECTRODE WIRE FEEDER FOR MIG/MAG AND TIG WELDING PROCESSES

The electrode wire feeding mechanisms of welding machines are designed to transport the electrode wire from the spool to the welding zone at a constant, predetermined speed or at a speed that varies according to a given law. One of the most promising areas for improving arc welding and surfacing equipment is to control the transfer of electrode metal by pulsing the electrode wire. Therefore, the feeding mechanisms of welding machines must ensure compliance with the conditions of continuous feeding at a constant speed or pulsed feeding with an intermittent movement. The problem of forming pulses with the required parameters can be solved by feeding mechanisms with a vibration drive. The main advantage of such a technical solution is the ability to produce pulsed motion with controllable frequency and amplitude parameters. Due to the high resolution of movement and high dynamic properties in transient motion modes, vibration-driven feeding mechanisms are able to provide high accuracy of bar material feeding into the working area of technological equipment. The principle of operation of such a mechanism is based on the transformation of spatial vibrations into linear displacements. The analytical dependencies obtained in this work allow us to determine the parameters of electrode wire movement by the vibratory feeding mechanism. The proposed technical solution makes it possible to provide different movements of the wire along its axis, and changing the pulsation mode is made possible by adjusting the oscillation frequency of the drive.

Multiple metabolic signals in the CeA regulate feeding: The role of AMPK

BackgroundThe central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) is part of the dopaminergic reward system and controls energy balance. Recently, a cluster of neurons was identified as responsive to the orexigenic effect of ghrelin and fasting. However, the signaling pathway by which ghrelin and fasting induce feeding is unknown. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a cellular energy sensor, and its Thr172 phosphorylation (AMPKThr172) in the mediobasal hypothalamus regulates food intake. However, whether the expression and activation of AMPK in CeA could be one of the intracellular signaling activated in response to ghrelin and fasting eliciting food intake is unknown. AimTo evaluate the activation of AMPK into CeA in response to ghrelin, fasting, and 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) and whether feeding accompanied these changes. In addition, to investigate whether the inhibition of AMPK into CeA could decrease food intake. MethodsOn a chow diet, eight-week-old Wistar male rats were stereotaxically implanted with a cannula in the CeA to inject several modulators of AMPKα1/2Thr172 phosphorylation, and we performed physiological and molecular assays. Key findingsFasting increased, and refeeding reduced AMPKThr172 in the CeA. Intra-CeA glucose injection decreased feeding, whereas injection of 2DG, a glucoprivation inductor, in the CeA, increased food intake and blood glucose, despite faint increases in AMPKThr172. Intra-CeA ghrelin injection increased food intake and AMPKThr172. To further confirm the role of AMPK in the CeA, chronic injection of Melanotan II (MTII) in CeA reduced body mass and food intake over seven days together with a slight decrease in AMPKThr172. SignificanceOur findings identified that AMPK might be part of the signaling machinery in the CeA, which responds to nutrients and hormones contributing to feeding control. The results can contribute to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of altered feeding behavior/consumption, such as binge eating of caloric-dense, palatable food.

Development and Outlook for the FDM Printed Nozzle Structure

Abstract:: The nozzle is one of the parts of a 3D printer that cannot be missed because of its widespread popularity in recent years. The nozzle's structure determines the quality of the printed product; therefore, selecting a suitable nozzle structure is crucial. With the advancement of 3D printing technology in recent years, 3D printers have progressively come under investigation. Examining the design of the nozzle, feeding mechanism, and printing platform can help to increase the quality of the prints. The design and enhancement of the nozzle structure are beneficial to the advancement of 3D printing technology since it is one of the key elements influencing print quality. Using the research methods, research content, and invention structure of the most recent representative patents on this nozzle structure, the features and operating principle of the 3D printed nozzle structure are illustrated. To classify and examine the nozzle temperature and nozzle clogging that impact the nozzles, a patent analysis of various types of 3D printing nozzle structures is carried out. Future trends in 3D printing nozzle structures are also covered. The issues caused by nozzle work can be resolved to increase product quality and precision by comparing various 3D printing nozzle structures. This will also lead to the invention of more relevant patents in the future, including those about printing numerous nozzles and high-strength metals.

A simple feed orthogonal excitation X-band dual circular polarized microstrip patch array antenna

This work represents a microstrip patch array antenna which is designed and analyzed for the application of circular polarization in X band frequency range. The proposed antenna array has a very simple microstrip line feeding mechanism and each patch is energized orthogonally to acquire circular polarization without the need for any phase shifters. The array antenna has a slot line in the ground to electrically couple the signals from the microstrip feed line to feed each patch. The outcome demonstrates that the antenna is capable of radiating both left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) and right-hand circular polarization (RHCP). The designed work has a return loss of -41.88 dB, that is the antenna is perfectly matched. The outcome also demonstrates the antenna’s strong gain and directivity capabilities, which are 12.87 dBi and 13.30 dBi, respectively. The antenna resonates circularly at a frequency of 10 GHz.

Phase delay through slot-line beam switching microstrip patch array antenna design for sub-6 GHz 5G band applications

Two, four, eight, and sixteen-element patch array antennas for beam switching are presented in this study. For a 1×2 array, an aperture-coupled feeding mechanism is used to feed patches while a slot line on the ground plane provides the phase delay between antenna elements. The 1×2 array is used to create the 2×2, 4×2, and 8×2 arrays, and an equal power divider provides the signal for each. For applications in the 5G sub-6 GHz frequency spectrum, the antennas are modeled. With -37.14 dB, -17.85 dB, -21.51 dB, and -26.03 dB return loss for two, four, eight, and sixteen-element array antennas respectively the simulation demonstrates that the antennas are properly matched at the resonant frequency. The antennas can switch its radiated beam to ±24<sup>o</sup>, ±24<sup>o</sup>, ±28<sup>o</sup>, and ±26<sup>o</sup> with gains of 8.97 dBi, 11.19 dBi, 13.23 dBi, and 16.24 dBi, respectively at the resonance frequency. The directivity of the proposed antenna is found to be 9.17 dBi, 11.20 dBi, 13.40 dBi, and 16.45 dBi respectively. The antennas are constructed with two 0.8 mm-thick Teflon substrate layers. The ground plane between the two substrate layers contains the aperture and the slot line that generates the phase delay.

Dynamics of OSU-35 Naval Weapon System Ammunition Belts

The paper analyzes the dynamics of an ammunition belt feeding the 35 mm KDA naval cannon - an integral component of the 35 mm Naval Weapon System (OSU-35). The study is concerned with an ammunition feeding mechanism designed and manufactured by Zakłady Mechaniczne “Tarnów” S.A. (Tarnów, Poland), and is part of the project entitled: 35 mm KDA automatic naval cannon with a ship-installed fire control system utilizing a naval version of the ZGS-158 Integrated Tracking Head with a fire control station. The results of the above-mentioned analysis have confirmed that the design solutions satisfy the assumptions defined for the development of the 35 mm naval cannon being part of the Polish OSU-35 weapon system.

Prey capture kinematics of horned frogs (Anura: Ceratophryidae).

Horned frogs, members of the Ceratophryidae family, encompass a group of anurans varying in size and behavior, yet unified by morphological and behavioral traits enabling them to adopt a megalophagous diet (i.e., large prey feeding). Although the group has been the focus of numerous studies, our understanding of its feeding behavior remains limited. In this study, we characterize the feeding mechanism in five species representing the three extant genera of ceratophryid anurans, both in terrestrial and aquatic environments. We also explore the ability of Chacophrys pierottii to adjust feeding behavior based on prey type. Our findings show that all species are capable of widemouth opening, displaying an asymmetric feeding cycle. While tongue usage is the primary method for capturing prey on land, ceratophryids may use their forelimbs to manipulate prey into their mouths, exhibiting different behavioral patterns. C. pierottii shows modulation of its feeding kinematics and is also capable of some modulation of its feeding in response to prey properties.

Working speed optimisation of the fully automated vegetable seedling transplanter

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal operating speeds for a modified linkage cum hopper type planting unit that was used in low-speed automated vegetable transplanters. The transplanter utilizes a biodegradable seedling plug-tray feeding mechanism. The movement of the planter unit was simulated at different operating conditions using kinematic simulation software, and the resulting trajectories were compared based on factors such as plant spacing, soil intrusion area, soil intrusion perimeter, and horizontal displacement of the hopper in soil and found optimal result at 200, 250 and 300 mm/s and 40, 50 and 60 rpm combinations. The optimal operating speeds were then tested in a soil bin facility and found to perform well when transplanting pepper seedlings, with measured plant spacing that was close to the theoretical spacing. The planting depth in each case was not significantly different and the planting angle in different speed combinations was found to be significantly different, but within permissible limits. The mulch film damage was low for the selected optimised speed combinations. This study resulted in the determination of the optimal speeds for the transplanter, which can be used as a basis for optimising the other mechanisms within the transplanter.

Design of a proteolytic module for improved metabolic modeling of Bacteroides caccae.

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in health and is significantly modulated by human diets. In addition to Western diets which are rich in proteins, high-protein diets are used for specific populations or indications, mainly weight loss. In this study, we investigated the effect of protein supplementation on Bacteroides caccae, a Gram-negative gut symbiont. The supplementation with whey proteins led to a significant increase in growth rate, final biomass, and short-chain fatty acids production. A comprehensive genomic analysis revealed that B. caccae possesses a set of 156 proteases with putative intracellular and extracellular localization and allowed to identify amino acid transporters and metabolic pathways. We developed a fully curated genome-scale metabolic model of B. caccae that incorporated its proteolytic activity and simulated its growth and production of fermentation-related metabolites in response to the different growth media. We validated the model by comparing the predicted phenotype to experimental data. The model accurately predicted B. caccae's growth and metabolite production (R2 = 0.92 for the training set and R2 = 0.89 for the validation set). We found that accounting for both ATP consumption related to proteolysis, and whey protein accessibility is necessary for accurate predictions of metabolites production. These results provide insights into B. caccae's adaptation to a high-protein diet and its ability to utilize proteins as a source of nutrition. The proposed model provides a useful tool for understanding the feeding mechanism of B. caccae in the gut microbiome.IMPORTANCEMicrobial proteolysis is understudied despite the availability of dietary proteins for the gut microbiota. Here, the proteolytic potential of the gut symbiont Bacteroides caccae was analyzed for the first time using pan-genomics. This sketches a well-equipped bacteria for protein breakdown, capable of producing 156 different proteases with a broad spectrum of cleavage targets. This functional potential was confirmed by the enhancement of growth and metabolic activities at high protein levels. Proteolysis was included in a B. caccae metabolic model which was fitted with the experiments and validated on external data. This model pinpoints the links between protein availability and short-chain fatty acids production, and the importance for B. caccae to gain access to glutamate and asparagine to promote growth. This integrated approach can be generalized to other symbionts and upscaled to complex microbiota to get insights into the ecological impact of proteins on the gut microbiota.