Article Transfer Device Using Inclined Plane to Reduce Drop Impact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing article transfer devices require a significant amount of time to transfer articles from a placement component to a container, and there is a risk of damage due to gripping and vertical dropping, especially when using suction units.

Innovation Solution

The article transfer device changes the angle between the placement surface and the container's bottom surface to utilize inclination for transferring articles, eliminating the need for gripping and minimizing vertical drops by moving the placement component in a way that articles are transferred from a relatively low position to the container's bottom surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If articles are transferred using suction units to grip and release, then articles can be precisely positioned, but transfer time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidtransfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the gripping function from the transfer mechanism by eliminating suction units entirely. Articles are transferred through direct contact and gravity-driven movement between the article transfer device and container, removing the time-consuming grip-release cycle while maintaining positioning accuracy through controlled mechanical motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Articles transfer themselves to the container through gravity and controlled inclination without requiring active gripping. The system uses the articles' own weight and the inclined surface to facilitate automatic transfer, eliminating the need for suction-based gripping and releasing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If suction units grip articles vertically, then articles can be lifted and moved, but articles may sustain damage or fail to grip properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelifting speedVSAvoidgripping reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of lifting articles vertically using suction, the invention inverts the approach by using a tilted surface that guides articles to slide or roll into the container. This reverses the traditional vertical lifting motion with a controlled inclined plane approach, eliminating suction-related gripping failures and damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the suction-based mechanical gripping system with a gravity-based inclined plane system. Articles are transferred through controlled sliding or rolling on a tilted surface rather than being gripped and lifted, fundamentally changing the mechanical interaction to eliminate suction-related reliability issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If articles are vertically dropped to the container bottom, then transfer speed increases, but article damage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer speedVSAvoidarticle damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies beforehand cushioning by using a tilted transfer surface that gradually reduces the transfer height. Articles slide or roll down the incline rather than being dropped vertically, providing a cushioned transfer path that prevents impact damage while maintaining efficient transfer speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the transfer from a vertical one-dimensional drop to a controlled two-dimensional motion along an inclined plane. By introducing the horizontal component through tilting, articles follow a longer but gentler path that reduces impact velocity and prevents damage while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach significantly reduces transfer time and minimizes damage to articles by avoiding vertical drops and the issues associated with gripping, such as incomplete suction or article dropping.

Implementation Method 1

a suction unit that applies vacuum to articles G on the placement component 10

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

changes the angle between a placement surface and a bottom surface of the container so as to utilize inclination to transfer the articles G

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3798141B1Article transfer device

Publication Date: 2023.11.01 ISHIDA CO LTD

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AI summary

An article transfer device (100) is configured to transfer a plurality of articles from a placement component (10) to a container (C). The placement component includes a placement surface (16) on which the plural articles are placed. The article transfer device includes a placement component drive unit (18) that relatively moves the container and the placement component and a control unit (160) that controls the operation of the placement component drive unit. The control unit (160) controls the operation of the placement component drive unit (18) so that, when the articles on the placement component are above the container, the placement component is pulled out from between the container and the articles.