Adjustable Binding Guides for Packaging Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
The packaging industry faces challenges in efficiently forming packaging units from multiple containers of varying diameters, as existing solutions lack effective mechanisms for self-adjustment and precise adhesive bonding, leading to inefficiencies in production and handling.
Innovation Solution
A transport-and-treatment station with rotating conveyor circuits and a binding-and-packing station featuring adjustable coupling elements and binding guides that maintain parallelism, allowing for self-adjustment to different container sizes and shapes, ensuring precise adhesive bonding and formation of packaging units like six-packs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed binding guides are used in the binding-and-packing station, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus cannot adapt to different container diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The binding guides are mounted on carriers that can move along guide paths, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one. The carriers are adjustable in position and orientation, allowing the binding guides to adapt to different container diameters while maintaining structural integrity through controlled movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable carriers enable the binding guides to serve multiple functions by accommodating different container sizes and shapes. The same binding guide structure can be repositioned and reoriented to handle various container types, making the apparatus universally applicable without requiring multiple dedicated guides for each container size.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of binding guides is used, then the structure is simple, but the adhesive bonding precision is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanisms are equipped with control systems that monitor the position and orientation of the binding guides relative to the containers. This feedback enables precise adjustment of the binding guides to ensure accurate adhesive bonding, with the control system automatically correcting any deviations from the optimal positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus performs self-adjustment of the binding guides based on detected container characteristics. The system automatically positions and orients the binding guides without requiring manual intervention, using sensors and actuators to achieve precise adhesive bonding alignment autonomously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the binding-and-packing station is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus cannot handle varying production requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The binding-and-packing station incorporates dynamic carriers that can move along predefined guide paths, allowing the binding guides to be repositioned according to different production requirements. The carriers maintain parallelism through mechanical constraints while enabling flexible adjustment of the binding station's configuration.
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 solution enables efficient and precise formation of packaging units by automatically adjusting to various container sizes and shapes, ensuring consistent adhesive bonding and simplifying the production process, allowing for easy conversion and handling of different container types.
Implementation Method 1
a gluing station (12) which applies adhesive onto a circumferential region of the containers (20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)
Data Source
AI summary
Rotating conveyor circuits that carry containers to be formed into packaging units to a binding-and-packing station that has parallel binding guides supported by carriers. Each binding guide has a deflection element facing the circuits. Coupling elements provide jointed connections between the binding guides and the circuits. An adjustment mechanism adjusts a channel width between the binding guides such that the binding guides remain parallel.