Vertically Adjustable Tables for Injection Molding Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging methods for plastic injection molded parts, such as pipette tips or medical reaction vessels, face challenges in tracing the origin of parts within a final packaging unit and optimizing space and cycle time, particularly when the number of parts to be packaged does not correspond to the number of cavities in the injection molding tool.
Innovation Solution
A packaging method and device that utilize vertically adjustable tables to directly transfer parts from the molding cavities to final packaging units, allowing for flexible loading of parts without intermediate storage, thereby minimizing space requirements and enabling tracing of part origin, with the option to adjust tables along a vertical axis for efficient loading and unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If plastic injection molded parts are transferred directly from cavities to final packaging units via hoses, then traceability of part origin is improved, but the number of parts to be conveyed must correspond to the number of cavities or be an integral multiple, and enormous space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal conveyor-based transfer to vertical gravity-fed transfer. Parts are discharged vertically downward from cavities into intermediate store positions, utilizing the vertical dimension to eliminate the need for extensive horizontal conveyor systems. This dimensional change maintains traceability while dramatically reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the intermediate storage function from the conveyor system and integrates it directly at the cavity discharge positions. By placing intermediate stores at each cavity location, the system eliminates the need for centralized horizontal conveyors, achieving both space reduction and maintained traceability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If plastic injection molded parts are stored in an intermediate store and distributed to subgroups, then flexibility in packaging configuration is improved, but cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary grouping of parts into subgroups at the intermediate store positions immediately after cavity discharge. This preliminary action organizes parts by cavity origin before final packaging, enabling flexible configuration while maintaining efficient cycle times through parallel processing of multiple subgroups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packaging process into distinct stages: cavity discharge, intermediate storage with subgroup formation, and final packaging unit assembly. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each stage, providing flexibility in packaging configuration without creating bottlenecks that would extend cycle time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of parts to be packaged does not correspond to the number of cavities, then packaging flexibility is improved, but traceability and space optimization become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate stores as intermediary elements between cavities and final packaging units. These intermediates act as mediators that decouple the fixed cavity count from variable packaging requirements, enabling flexible packaging configurations while maintaining traceability through organized subgroup management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic system where the number and configuration of subgroups can be adjusted based on packaging requirements. The intermediate stores enable flexible allocation of parts from multiple cavities to different packaging unit sizes, adapting to varying production demands without increasing traceability complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging injection-molded plastic parts formed from pipette tips or medical reaction vessels into final packaging units. According to the invention, at least one table adjustable along a vertical axis is provided, which either serves as an intermediate storage area or already carries the at least one final packaging unit to be loaded.