P.A.C.E.R.

P.A.C.E.R. is mechanical pace-setting module that will adjust the ball output rate depending on the ball supply. The backronym is Payload-adjusting, Cadence-enhancing Regulator.

It is sometimes desirable to have a slow module in a large layout to smoothen out inconsistent ball flow. A slow module allows the periodic smaller ball supply to be distributed for longer. P.A.C.E.R. will deliver at the slow rate of 2 balls ever 3 balls seconds when ball supply is low. However, when ball supply increases, the output rate will increase to 1 ball per second. This will allow modules downstream to also receive balls at the standard 1 bps and allow them to be shown in closer to ideal conditions.

This is facilitated by P.A.C.E.R.'s two-tiered wheel design. The outer tier picks balls up during slow periods and delivers the 2 balls every 3 seconds to the output. When ball supply is high, an inner tier picks up a 3rd ball and delivers it as well, increasing the throughput to 3 balls for the same 3-second period.

P.A.C.E.R. also features some anti-jamming safety measures that should reduce the likelihood of balls going up the center of the wheel and dropping onto the mechanism.

The concept of mechanically increasing the output rate based on the amount of balls received was inspired by Kai's Three Label Draining Protection Reservoir which uses multiple conveyors to achieve the same objective.