Bag Stacking Device Dividing Shingled Sacks for Parallel Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sack transport and stacking devices are inefficient in downstream processing, leading to slower processing times compared to sack production.

Innovation Solution

A sack transport and stacking device equipped with a dividing device that allows for the division of shingled or stacked sacks into multiple sequences, enabling parallel feeding into subsequent processing stations, combined with elevators and shifting devices for efficient palletizing and alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sacks are transported sequentially to subsequent processing stations, then the transport system remains simple, but the processing speed is limited by the slowest station

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidtransport system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The transport system is segmented into multiple parallel conveyor tracks (first transport path and second transport path) that can operate independently. The dividing device separates the single stream of sacks into two separate streams, allowing simultaneous processing at different stations. This segmentation enables parallel processing without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a single-dimensional sequential transport to a two-dimensional parallel transport structure. By introducing a second transport path running parallel to the first, the system utilizes spatial dimensionality to enable simultaneous processing. The dividing device routes sacks to different paths, creating parallel processing flows that increase overall throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If a single stacking station processes all sacks sequentially, then the device complexity is low, but the time required for sack processing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesack processing timeVSAvoidprocessing throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacking function is segmented across multiple stations (first stacking station and second stacking station) positioned at different locations along the parallel transport paths. Each station processes a subset of sacks independently and simultaneously, dividing the total processing workload to reduce overall processing time and increase throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If stacks of sacks are inspected and processed one at a time, then the inspection quality can be maintained, but the overall production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidinspection quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection process is segmented into multiple parallel inspection stations (first inspection station and second inspection station) positioned along the parallel transport paths. Each station performs inspection on separate stacks simultaneously, maintaining thorough inspection quality while multiplying the overall inspection capacity. This allows multiple stacks to be inspected in parallel rather than sequentially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4041665B1Bag transport and bag stacking device, and method for transporting bags or bag stacks
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP4041665B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4041665B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4041665B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention describes a bag transport and bag stacking device (1) for transporting bags (11) or bag stacks and for providing bag stacks for follow-on processing, having a layering separation station (10), for dividing layered bags into subgroups of layered bags (13) each with a predefined number of bags, a stacking station (30) for forming a bag stack from the bags of a subgroup of layered bags, a monitoring station (40) for monitoring bag stacks and/or individual bags in bag stacks, a turning station (30) for optionally turning bag stacks, and a provisioning station (60) for providing bag stacks for follow-on processing. At least one dividing device (80) is provided, with which a sequence of layered bags, subgroups of layered bags and/or bag stack sequences can be divided into at least two sequences of layered bags, subgroups of layered bags and/or series of bag stacks.