Adjustable Divider Fingers for Grouping Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grouping devices for piece goods require complex and time-consuming adjustments to accommodate different product sizes and shapes, leading to potential measurement errors and disruptions in the product flow.
Innovation Solution
A device with divider fingers firmly connected to a movably arranged divider bar, guided by spacer elements that allow for adjustable positioning and spacing, enabling easy adaptation to various product sizes without the need for extensive reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If divider fingers are adjusted to accommodate different product sizes, then adaptability is improved, but adjustment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The divider bar is segmented into multiple individual divider fingers that can be independently adjusted along the bar. Each divider finger can be positioned separately to accommodate different product sizes and spacing requirements, allowing rapid reconfiguration without adjusting the entire divider system.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider fingers are designed with movable mounting mechanisms that allow them to be dynamically repositioned along the divider bar. This dynamic adjustability enables quick adaptation to different product configurations while maintaining operational flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If divider fingers are manually adjusted and repositioned, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates measurement and feedback mechanisms that provide visual or digital indicators for divider finger positioning. This feedback ensures precise placement of divider fingers at the correct intervals, eliminating guesswork and human measurement errors while maintaining adaptability to different product sizes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical adjustments are performed to change grouping sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex adjustment mechanisms are extracted from the main divider bar structure and implemented as separate, modular components. This allows the divider fingers to be independently adjusted without complicating the overall divider bar design, maintaining structural simplicity while providing adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If divider fingers are repositioned to accommodate different products, then adaptability is improved, but productivity decreases due to disruptions in product flow
Solution Approach 1:
The divider fingers are pre-positioned and pre-configured for different product types before the actual grouping operation begins. This preliminary setup allows the system to adapt to different container sizes and grouping requirements without interrupting the product flow during operation, thereby maintaining productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (8) has a single-piece finger (16) firmly connected with a single-piece flat rod (18) that is movably arranged within a transport layer and guided in a variable movement path in a defined or temporary and/or spatial manner. The single-piece finger is fixed on a profile bar in a torque proof manner and fixed between distance elements. The single-piece finger is fixed by the distance elements at a defined position in a longitudinal direction of the profile bar. The distance elements and the single-piece finger are clamped together in the longitudinal direction of the profile bar.