Article Transport Device with Suspending Pusher for Stagnation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing article transport devices face challenges in maintaining regular intervals between articles during processing, leading to potential stagnation of subsequent articles due to high-speed transportation and variable input timing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a suspending mechanism with sensors and stoppers to temporarily suspend subsequent articles at a predetermined position, ensuring sufficient processing time for preceding articles by detecting article passage and using a controller to manage the suspension and movement of articles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If articles are transported at high speed from the article transport device, then productivity is improved, but subsequent articles may stagnate before the attachment position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport speedVSAvoidarticle spacing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses passage detection sensors to monitor the position and movement of articles in real-time. When a subsequent article is detected approaching too closely to a preceding article being processed, the control unit receives feedback signal and activates the suspending mechanism to maintain proper spacing, enabling high-speed transport while preventing stagnation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The article transport device dynamically adjusts the transport system by selectively suspending subsequent articles based on real-time detection. The suspending mechanism can be activated or deactivated depending on the processing status of preceding articles, creating a dynamic control system that adapts to varying transport conditions and maintains optimal article spacing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of moving object

If a subsequent article is suspended to allow processing of a preceding article, then processing time is ensured, but the transport interval may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing timeVSAvoidtransport interval
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The passage detection sensors are positioned to detect articles before they reach the processing zone, allowing the control unit to predict when subsequent articles will arrive. The suspending mechanism is activated in advance based on these predictions, ensuring that articles are suspended at the optimal moment to maintain regular transport intervals while providing sufficient processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces continuous mechanical transport with a controlled suspension mechanism activated by sensor detection. Instead of maintaining constant high-speed transport that would cause stagnation, the system uses sensor-triggered suspension to create controlled pauses, substituting mechanical continuity with sensor-based intermittent control to maintain both processing time and transport rhythm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3702301B1Article transport device
Publication Date: 2022.11.09 OSAKA SEALING PRINTING CO LTD
  • EP3702301B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3702301B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP3702301B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E

AI summary

An article transport device includes: an input section (21) configured to input a package (W); an input belt conveyor (22) configured to transport, toward a seal attaching mechanism (10), the package input by the input section; a passage detection sensor (32) configured to detect that the package transported by the input belt conveyor passes by a predetermined position; a suspending pusher (31) configured to temporarily suspend a subsequent package while a package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism; and an article stopper (30) configured to block the subsequent package in a traveling direction and suspend the subsequent package while the package is processed by the seal attaching mechanism. An article detection sensor (33) is disposed upstream of the passage detection sensor. When the passage detection sensor detects passage of one package, the suspending pusher is caused to operate so that a subsequent package is temporarily suspended.