Can Carrier Coupling Apparatus with Adjustable Push and Roller Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coupling plastic can carriers to aluminum cans lack efficiency and automation, often requiring manual labor and additional packaging materials, and are not adaptable to varying can sizes or quantities.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus utilizing rails, stop members, push members, and rollers to guide and attach can carriers to cans, allowing for automated coupling and adjustment for different can sizes and quantities, reducing manual labor and packaging needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual labor is used to couple can carriers to cans, then flexibility in handling different can sizes and quantities is maintained, but productivity is low and labor costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus employs adjustable stop members that can be positioned at different locations along the rails to accommodate varying quantities of cans (4-packs, 6-packs, 8-packs). The push members are also adjustable in number and position, allowing the system to adapt to different can sizes and quantities while maintaining high-speed automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter adjustments including the number of push members, their positions, and stop member locations. These parameter changes enable the apparatus to handle different can sizes and quantities efficiently, resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability
2Ease of operation
If additional packaging materials (boxes, cartons, shrink-wrap) are used to attach cans, then cans can be handled and shipped as a unit, but the complexity of the packaging process increases and material costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for traditional packaging materials (boxes, cartons, shrink-wrap) by using a plastic can carrier that directly couples to the cans through a mechanical attachment process. The can carrier itself becomes the packaging structure, simplifying the overall system while achieving the same functional goal of unitized handling and shipping
3Productivity
If automated coupling processes are implemented, then productivity increases and labor requirements decrease, but the complexity of the coupling apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is segmented into distinct functional modules: rails for guiding cans, stop members for positioning, push members for advancing cans, and rollers for attachment. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function simply, reducing overall system complexity while enabling automated high-speed operation
Solution Approach 2:
The can carrier automatically attaches to the cans through the roller mechanism without requiring additional complex positioning or alignment systems. The rollers provide downward force that causes the can carrier to snap onto the cans, creating a self-service attachment process that increases productivity without proportionally increasing apparatus complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for coupling one or more can carriers to a plurality of cans is disclosed herein. The apparatus may include rails for guiding the cans as the cans move through the apparatus. Push members may be moved into the space between the rails to push the cans through the apparatus towards a member and at least one roller. The member (e.g., a hopper) may position a can carrier above the cans. The at least one roller may be positioned to provide a downward force on the can carrier to attach the can carrier to the top of the cans as the cans are moved past the at least one roller by the push members.