Automated Stave Selection for Barrel Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooperage manufacturing methods result in significant material waste and increased costs due to the restriction of using only symmetric staves about both horizontal and vertical axes, leading to inefficiencies in barrel production.
Innovation Solution
A machine with an input unit for measuring staves, a storage assembly, a calculation unit for selecting and reorienting staves, and an output unit for organizing them into a configuration ready for assembly, allowing the use of asymmetric staves and reducing manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If only symmetric staves about both horizontal and vertical axes are used, then the barrel assembly is simplified, but material waste increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by accepting and utilizing staves that are symmetric only about the vertical axis rather than requiring symmetry about both horizontal and vertical axes. This allows the use of staves with different widths at the two ends, thereby reducing material waste by up to 20% while maintaining barrel assembly feasibility through automated selection and arrangement systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual selection and organization of staves is used, then the process is flexible, but production time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical selection and organization processes with an automated system comprising a measuring station, calculation unit, and reorientation device. This automated system measures stave dimensions, calculates optimal selections, and physically reorients staves, thereby significantly reducing production time while maintaining adaptability through programmable control.
3Productivity
If automated selection and organization system is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automated system into distinct functional modules: a measuring station for dimension detection, a storage assembly for holding staves, a calculation unit for selecting and organizing staves, and a reorientation device for positioning. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by making each module independent and easier to design, maintain, and replace while achieving high productivity through their coordinated automated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine and method for selecting and organizing staves for making barrels. The machine includes an input unit, including a stave-measuring station, a storage assembly for storing the staves awaiting allocation and receiving the staves from the input and measuring unit, a calculation unit able to select staves from those measured in such a way as to form a collection of staves ready to assemble into a barrel, and an output unit, in relation with the storage assembly, equipped with a stave-reorientation system. Staves used by the machine and in the method may be asymmetric about a horizontal axis. The staves selected by the calculation unit are advantageously delivered to the output unit in an order and a configuration that make for easy assembly of the barrel.