Bale Transfer Grippers for Rotating and Tilting Strap Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently handling and aligning square bales for fiber processing, particularly in removing straps and ensuring proper orientation for subsequent processing, often requiring manual intervention and specific positioning.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a conveyor, lifting device with gripping elements, and rotary drive for tilting and rotating bales to align straps, combined with detection systems for precise positioning and orientation adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual cutting and positioning methods are used, then flexibility in handling various bale orientations is improved, but labor intensity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bale cutting device automatically detects strap positions and orientations using sensors, then self-adjusts blade angles and gripping element positions without manual intervention. The system performs autonomous alignment and cutting based on detected bale configurations, eliminating the need for manual positioning while maintaining adaptability to various orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamically adjustable components including rotatable cutting blades with variable angles, movable gripping elements that adapt to different bale positions, and flexible conveyor belts that can accommodate various bale orientations. These dynamic elements enable the system to handle diverse bale configurations automatically.
2Device complexity
If fixed conveyor arrangements are used, then system simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different processing configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is designed with universal components that can function in multiple configurations. The conveyor belts can operate in parallel or at angles to each other, and the same basic device structure handles both bale transfer and orientation adjustment. This multi-functionality allows a single device design to adapt to different processing layouts without requiring completely different conveyor arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system incorporates dynamically adjustable elements including variable belt speeds, adjustable belt angles, and movable support structures. These dynamic features enable the conveyors to adapt to different spatial configurations and processing requirements while maintaining a relatively simple base design.
3Productivity
If blade-based cutting systems are used, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but mechanical stress on the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting system incorporates vibratory motion in the blades during the cutting process. This vibration reduces the force required by maintaining a continuous cutting action rather than relying solely on static blade pressure. The vibratory cutting mechanism decreases mechanical stress on the blade mounting and drive systems while maintaining effective strap cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade system uses dynamic cutting mechanisms where blades move with controlled vibrations and variable speeds during operation. This dynamic approach distributes mechanical stress over time rather than requiring peak forces, reducing overall stress on the mechanical components while maintaining cutting effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement, a device and a method for transferring bales. The bales, in particular bales of waste paper that are to be supplied to fiber processing, are bound with straps. Bales are picked up from a conveyor on the input side, aligned, pivoted and, if necessary tilted, and deposited on a conveyor on an output side by a transfer unit. For handling the bales, the transfer unit has a gripping unit with gripping elements. The gripping elements can be moved relative to one another and they can be moved vertically and can be rotated to tilt the bales in order to bring the straps of the bales into a preferred alignment.