struggling with project

[RobinShow]

Hello everyone,
First of all, thank you to everyone who is helping. I'm a first-year mechanical engineering student, and I was asked to create a project for disposing of waste into a recycling bin based on the following rules:
The allowed materials are:
• Cardboard
• Newspapers
• Straws
• Popsicle sticks
• Rubber bands
• Masking tape
• A small plastic container
• Bottle caps
• Embroidery threads
• Glue
• Skewers
• A cardboard roll from a paper towel or toilet paper roll

The idea is using physic's principles and the components above (anything else that is not mentioned requires approval).
I need to place a full 750 ml water bottle into a bin (detailed photo attached)
As a starting point, The bottle will be placed in the empty space wherever I choose. I’m allowed to place parts of the model on top of the water bottle, and then I’ll need to release a trigger, which in the end will place the bottle into the recycling structure.
i've built a cardboard crane that its lift build from plastic and rubber bands, but the crane broke.
Then I built a grabber using calipers (I got approval to use a children’s medicine syringe), but I couldn’t generate rotational energy and potientional.
There’s a little more than a week left, and I’m struggling to solve it. The project will be shown in from of the whole class so I’d appreciate ideas, guidance, and anything that might help.
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

 

[Ron247]

Just trying to understand what you are doing.

1. You are not building the recycle bin.
2. You are building the piece of equipment that moves the full water bottle from the big ellipse to the smaller ellipse.
3. You are calling the equipment, the "model".
4. The model must set inside the rectangle.
5. You are allowed to "place parts of the model on top of the water bottle" before activating the trigger.

Assuming what I have said above it correct:

1. Are you allowed to use force to "place parts on the model" in the sense of stretching a rubber band or forcing something to rotate as you place it on top of the water bottle.
2. Is your model secured/fastened to the top of the bin?
3. Does it have to be lifted, or can it be tipped over or slid?
4. Can you baseball bat it into the opening?

For me, all problem solving starts with 2 things. 1) accurately define the problem (this definition should not include a proposed solution) 2) think of ALL ways you could accomplish this REGARDLESS of your specific project criteria.

With training, these 2 steps take about 5-30 minutes in many cases provided no one gets wrapped up in your project specific criteria.

 

[mfgenggear]

OP
please explain as proposed the above post.
please elaborate some more.
and what what issues causing issues?

 

[3DDave]

Seems odd to put a bottle of water into a recycle bin.

Some hands-on research is required.

If there is no friction, the bottle will just slide easily, unless it is slightly uphill.
If there is too much friction the bottle will have to be toppled.
If there is intermediate amount then there may be a tipping-point amount of force that is required if applied at the top or a non-tipping, higher sliding force that is maximum at the base of the bottle.

Get a bottle and fill it and then see what it takes to push it or to push it over.

 

[rb1957]

I think the bottle is empty ... just putting the bottle into the recycling bin.

You built a crane and it broke. Ok, good ... how did it break ? a compression failure ? what did you build it out of ? popsicle sticks and glue ?

You're taken the first step ... designed a solution and tested it.
So now, how to improve your design to make it work.

Are you allowed only one trigger ? or two ... one to move the bottle and one to release it ?

 

[3DDave]

"I need to place a full 750 ml water bottle ..."

Sure, probably a translation error; up to the OP to make the conditions clear and not rely solely on automatic translations.

 

[mfgenggear]

ok I was and still confused.
the statement of the project doesn't seem clear.
in projects i was involved with.
program managers who were really good at communicating . described what we are to build. how we are to build it. what are the design and manufacturing parameters.
time frame which it needs to be done.
I believe or maybe it isn't well defined.
thus why the op is stuck.

 

[mfgenggear]

so the object to insert a bottle of water or not
into a recycle bin.
how does the bottle get there.
is there a mechanism which the bottle is place on and then a start button has to be pushed to start it. how would this inhance
to improve productivity.
can it be a conveyor to place the bottle on
so it can be automatically carry the load and automatically straighten and insert it into the recycle bin.
ps : am I on track? or am I missing the point?

 

[MintJulep]

Are you allowed to attach your device to the playing field?

 

[IRstuff]

Rotation: one option is think watchsprings, or mechanical tape measures

 

[rb1957]

Robin, as someone mentioned above, how does the "contraption" react these loads (like pushing the bottle) ? is it securely attached to the base ?? or is it just placed there ?

 

[raz2]

I would use a four bar linkage

 

[rb1957]

if the model is "placed" there, I don't see how it'll work (without being fixed in place) ... how to react moments ? (yes, you could use the dead weight to create a compression onto the surface and that could offset some tension from a moment ... that'd be a interesting sum and possibly the point, but how to balance shear loads, moving the bottle sideways ?

 

[Ron247]

Is the recycle bin ellipse a hole or a solid surface?

 

[rb1957]

I'm thinking of a tower, that'll tip over when triggered ... maybe have longer legs on the outside (away from the target) , have these as links, a rubber band hold them closed, then they extend when triggered ? Have the bottle horizontal, pointing at the target ...

 

[mfgenggear]

I'm thinking of a tower, that'll tip over when triggered ... maybe have longer legs on the outside (away from the target) , have these as links, a rubber band hold them closed, then they extend when triggered ? Have the bottle horizontal, pointing at the target ...

I liked that idea, why cross it out?

 

[rb1957]

'cause it doesn't fit the problem ... "your structure here", the bottle starts somewhere else, and finishes in a 3rd place.

I have no idea how to do this ... good thing I'm not in school ...

 

[mfgenggear]

'cause it doesn't fit the problem ... "your structure here", the bottle starts somewhere else, and finishes in a 3rd place.

I have no idea how to do this ... good thing I'm not in school ...

I would add a simple robotic arm to grab the bottle and place it in the bin. the robotic arm will have grippers. who cares if the bottle is crushed. bingo

 

[Ron247]

Now back to the full bottle. Full bottle with or without a cap fastened to it?

 

[MintJulep]

Assuming a primarily cylindrical bottle, I'd flop a ramp down and topple the bottle on to it