Adjustable Carriage for High-Speed Packaging Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional secondary packaging systems are inefficient in handling articles of various shapes and sizes, leading to instability, increased changeover times, and reduced throughput due to the need for reconfiguration and operation at slow speeds to maintain control.
Innovation Solution
A grouping apparatus with an adjustable carriage and transport members that can accommodate articles of different sizes and shapes, allowing for flexible configuration and continuous operation at high speeds, even with missing or rejected articles, by adjusting compartment widths and using sensors for real-time adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional secondary packaging systems operate at high speeds, then productivity increases, but primary packages become unstable and may fall over or be improperly arranged
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage is designed with adjustable compartment widths that can be dynamically reconfigured using actuators (e.g., scissor mechanisms, linkages) to accommodate different primary package sizes and shapes. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain stability across varying package types while operating at high speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional secondary packaging systems are reconfigured to handle different sizes and shapes of primary packages, then adaptability improves, but changeover time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage incorporates adjustable compartments with mechanisms (actuators, linkages, scissor mechanisms) that enable rapid reconfiguration of compartment widths to match different primary package dimensions. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to various package types without lengthy changeover periods, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and changeover time.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple types of primary packages through its adjustable compartment structure. Rather than requiring dedicated fixtures for each package type, the single carriage design with reconfigurable compartments provides multi-functionality, reducing changeover time while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional secondary packaging systems use fixed configuration carriages, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to handle articles of various sizes and shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage employs adjustable compartments with mechanical adjustment mechanisms (actuators, linkages, scissor mechanisms) that enable the structure to dynamically change its configuration. This dynamic design allows the carriage to accommodate various article sizes and shapes while maintaining a relatively simple base structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustable carriage for receiving and moving articles on a manufacturing line is provided that includes a first base portion and a second base. A first support member is connected with and extends substantially orthogonal to the first base portion and a second support member is connected with and extending substantially orthogonal to the second base portion. The first and second support members and the base combine to define an article receiving compartment having a compartment width. The base is positionable in a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration the first base portion is positioned relative to the second base portion such that the compartment width is defined by a first length. In the second configuration the first base portion is positioned relative to the second base portion such that the compartment width is defined by a second length that is different from the second length.