Bag Handling Displacement Device for Flexible Packaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated packaging equipment struggles to efficiently handle a wide variety of bags, including porous, flexible, and poorly stacked bags of varying dimensions, leading to issues with bag preparation, sealing, and hygiene, resulting in rejected bags and quality problems.
Innovation Solution
A 5 to 6 degrees of freedom displacement device with a gripper and controller for precise location evaluation and correction, allowing continuous movements to grab, transport, and install bags on the filling point, utilizing measurement systems and sensors to optimize bag handling and reduce processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated packaging equipment is constructed to be as efficient as possible in a given application, then productivity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates because the equipment cannot efficiently handle a wide variety of bag types including porous, flexible, and poorly stacked bags
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a robotic system with 5-6 degrees of freedom that enables dynamic, multi-directional movement compared to traditional 3-4 degree systems. This allows the end effector to approach bags from various angles and positions, adapting to different bag types (porous, flexible, poorly stacked) while maintaining high packaging productivity through continuous motion capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters including the number of degrees of freedom (from 3-4 to 5-6), movement patterns (from pre-defined back-and-forth to continuous variable movements), and positioning flexibility (from fixed locations to any position in 3D space). These parameter changes enable the equipment to handle diverse bag types efficiently without sacrificing productivity
2Adaptability or versatility
If the scope of equipment is stretched to process most types of bags, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates leading to bags with defaults or rejected bags
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates vision systems and sensors that provide real-time feedback on bag position, orientation, and condition. This feedback loop allows the robotic system to adjust its gripping force, movement trajectory, and positioning accuracy dynamically, ensuring high preparation quality across different bag types without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic adjustment of gripping forces and movement parameters based on real-time bag characteristics. The 5-6 degree of freedom robotic system can adapt its end effector position and orientation continuously during bag handling, maintaining precise bag preparation quality while processing diverse bag types including flexible and porous materials
3Device complexity
If pre-defined and invariable movements are used in automated packaging, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to back and forth movements and limited degrees of freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous variable movements replacing traditional back-and-forth cyclic motions. The robotic system with 5-6 degrees of freedom can move the end effector continuously in multiple directions without returning to fixed positions, eliminating idle movement time and significantly increasing packaging speed while maintaining manageable device complexity through programmable motion control
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, pre-defined movement paths to dynamic, real-time trajectory optimization. The robotic controller adjusts movement parameters continuously based on bag position and task requirements, enabling faster packaging cycles without requiring overly complex mechanical structures
4Manufacturing precision
If location evaluation and correction is performed on bags, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional measurement and adjustment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs location evaluation using vision systems and sensors before the robotic system begins bag manipulation. This preliminary measurement allows the controller to pre-calculate optimal gripping positions and movement trajectories, ensuring accurate bag preparation without adding significant processing time to the overall cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates location evaluation, measurement, and correction into continuous motion rather than separate discrete steps. The robotic system measures and adjusts bag position dynamically during the handling process itself, eliminating idle measurement time and maintaining high manufacturing precision while minimizing time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A displacement device responsible for preparing the bag for its installation at a filling point (or second location) of packaging equipment. The displacement device grabs the bag from the pick-up location (or stack) (from which first position and orientation parameters have been previously measured), displaces the bag while measuring second position and orientation parameters of the bag, adjusting the operation and displacement of the displacement device for displacing and installing the bag on the filling point; at the same time, the measurement of the next bag first position and orientation parameters is done to adjust the operation and displacement of the displacement device for grabbing the next bag on the stack. Such a double location evaluation, which is concomitant on two different bags, allows savings in processing time.