Candy Transfer Device Ejection Means for Contamination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing candy packaging machines, such as those for lollipops, face inefficiencies due to the need for complete shutdown during emergencies, defects, or interruptions, leading to heat-related contamination and production losses, as the sealing heads continue to emit heat and plastic sticks and confectionery can melt, causing poor packaging and potential machine standstill.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with ejection means between the feed and exit locations allows for selective removal of lollipops from transporters, enabling quick emptying and repair of the machine during defects, keeping the unaffected parts operational, and using actuators to activate ejection mechanisms between conveyor operation positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the machine is stopped completely during emergency or defect, then safety is ensured and defect can be repaired, but production time is lost and sealing heads continue to emit heat causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is divided into separable functional units: the feeding device with conveyor can be stopped and emptied independently, while the packaging device with sealing heads can remain operational. This segmentation allows partial shutdown to prevent contamination without stopping the entire production line.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection device extracts articles from the conveyor trajectory between the feeding and packaging devices. By removing articles from the hazardous heat zone before they can be contaminated, the system prevents defect propagation without requiring complete shutdown.
2Ease of repair
If the machine is stopped completely during defect, then repair can be performed, but the entire machine including unaffected parts must be restarted
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independently controllable units. The feeding device can be stopped and emptied for repair while the packaging device continues operating. This allows localized maintenance without complete production shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging device maintains continuous operation during repair of the feeding device. The ejection device ensures a clean break in the article flow, allowing the packaging section to continue processing previously fed articles without interruption.
3Loss of energy
If sealing heads continue to emit heat after shutdown, then energy is saved by not cooling them immediately, but packaging material and confectionery can melt causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
Articles are extracted from the heat zone by the ejection device before they can be exposed to harmful temperatures. By removing articles from the trajectory between the feeding and packaging devices, contamination is prevented without requiring active cooling of the sealing heads.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection device rapidly removes articles from the hazardous heat zone, minimizing their exposure time to thermal contamination. This quick extraction prevents melting and contamination without requiring the sealing heads to be cooled down.
4Loss of time
If ejection means are positioned between feed and exit locations, then only lollipops in trajectory are lost during shutdown, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ejection device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the feeding and packaging devices. It provides a controlled interruption point in the article flow, allowing clean separation of the two functional zones without requiring complex redesign of either end device.
Solution Approach 2:
The ejection device is selectively actuatable and serves the system by enabling rapid emptying of the conveyor during defects. The simple mechanical ejection mechanism serves multiple purposes: stopping article flow, emptying the conveyor, and preventing defect propagation.
Data Source
AI summary
Device (6) for transferring candy articles, in particular lollipops provided with a stick, from a feed location to an exit location spaced apart therefrom, comprising at least one conveyor with candy article holders (23a, 23b), wherein the device is provided with first operation means for at the location of a reception location (H) at the conveyor setting candy article holders in a receiving position for receiving a stick coming from the feed location and with second operation means for at the location of a discharge location (I) at the conveyor setting the candy article holders in a discharge position for discharging the stick to the exit location, wherein the device is furthermore provided with third operation means (4) positioned between the reception location and the discharge location for, upstream from the discharge location, setting the candy article holders in a discharge position.