Bottom Carrier Mechanism for Reliable Bowl Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for separating bowls from a stack often fail due to shape discrepancies and weight variations, leading to deformation and damage, as they primarily engage the rim rather than the bottom, making reliable separation challenging.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a moveable bottom carrier element that supports the stack from below, allowing the separating element to engage the lowermost bowl effectively, utilizing a drive device for controlled movement to orient the stack and facilitate separation without damaging the bowls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the holding device engages the rim of the bowl for separation, then the separating apparatus can perform the separation function, but the rim of the bowl is deformed due to major variations in shape and weight of the stack
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of engaging the bowl from the rim (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by engaging the bowl from the bottom. The bottom carrier element is inserted into the bottom cavity of the lowermost bowl, providing support and enabling separation without deforming the rim. This inversion of the engagement point resolves the contradiction between separation reliability and bowl damage.
2Productivity
If rotating separating discs are used to separate bowls, then individual bowls can be separated, but the separating disc frequently does not find the gap due to misshapen rims and stack weight
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom carrier element acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the separating disc and the bowl. By inserting the carrier element into the bottom cavity, it provides a stable reference point and mechanical advantage, enabling the separating disc to effectively push the bowl away from the stack even with misshapen rims and varying weights.
3Reliability
If the bottom carrier element is moved into the region of the bottom of the lowermost bowl, then the stack can be properly oriented and separated, but the device complexity increases due to the moveable bottom carrier element and drive device
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom carrier element is designed to perform multiple functions: it supports the weight of the stack, orients the lowermost bowl correctly, and provides a mechanical interface for the separating disc. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high separation reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for separating individual bowls from a stack of bowls for receiving foodstuffs. The apparatus includes a machine frame for fixing components of the apparatus, a holding device for holding the stack, a separating device for separating individual bowls from the stack, having a separating element, and a drive device. The holding device has at least one bottom carrier element that is mounted in the region of a bottom of a lowermost bowl of the stack moveably by the device such that it temporarily carries the bowl from below and can be moved away from the region of the bottom of the lowermost bowl so that the lowermost bowl can be separated from the stack in a downward direction while the stack remains in the holding device. In addition, a corresponding method is provided of separating a bowl from a stack of bowls for receiving foodstuffs.