Adjustable Row Support for Palletizer Width Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pick and place palletizers face challenges in adjusting the bottom support surface to conform to items of varying widths, leading to inefficient and inaccurate placement of items on pallets, especially when items are narrower than the support surface, resulting in cantilevering or gaps in the load.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable row support surface mechanism using a roller floor support system driven by a double-rod air cylinder and chain mechanism, allowing the support surface to be dynamically adjusted to match the width of items, ensuring secure and precise placement by releasing the lock and retracting the support surface to fit narrower items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed bottom support surface is used in pick and place palletizers, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot conform to items of varying widths causing cantilevering or gaps in the load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to items of varying widthsVSAvoidcomplexity of support surface adjustment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom support surface is made dynamically adjustable through a mechanism comprising a chain drive system with rollers that can move the support surface horizontally. This allows the support surface to adapt its position to match the width of different items being palletized, eliminating cantilevering and gaps while maintaining structural integrity through the rigid frame and locked positioning system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the support surface is made adjustable to fit narrower items, then placement accuracy improves, but the machine footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement accuracy of itemsVSAvoidmachine footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support surface adjustment mechanism is segmented into modular components including individual rollers, chain links, and independent adjustment units. This segmentation allows the system to achieve precise placement accuracy for narrower items while keeping each component compact, thereby minimizing the overall machine footprint through efficient space utilization of the adjustment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid support surface is used, then structural stability is maintained, but it cannot accommodate different item orientations and widths efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different item orientationsVSAvoidstructural stability during operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs a dynamic adjustment mechanism with a chain drive and roller assembly that allows the support surface to be repositioned horizontally to match different item orientations and widths. The rigid frame structure maintains structural stability during operation while the adjustable roller assembly provides the necessary adaptability to accommodate various item configurations without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If the support surface is retracted to fit narrower items, then item placement precision improves, but the adjustment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem placement precisionVSAvoidadjustment time between different item sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The chain drive mechanism enables continuous and smooth adjustment of the support surface position without interruption to the palletizing process. The rollers move continuously along the chain, allowing rapid repositioning between different item sizes while maintaining continuous useful action. This eliminates idle time during adjustments and ensures that the system can quickly adapt to different item dimensions without sacrificing placement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Enables quick, accurate, and efficient creation of rows and layers on pallets, reducing machine footprint and minimizing wasted space, allowing for the efficient handling of items with varying widths without gaps or interference.

Implementation Method 1

double-rod air cylinder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

chain mechanism

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChain mechanism: Chain

Implementation Method 3

roller floor support system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling friction: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS11834279B2Adjustable row support for a palletizer

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 TOP TIER LLC

AI summary

Apparatus and methods for automatically conforming a bottom support surface in a pick and place palletizer to the width of items such as cases that are supported on the surface are described. The invention defines an improved apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the width of a row support surface to conform to undersized items or items having a width when an item side is against the apron backstop that is less than the apron depth relative to the backstop.