Cardboard Packaging Erecting Apparatus Reducing Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for expanding and erecting collapsed or folded cardboard packagings require significant horizontal space and result in lower pacing due to inefficient movement paths and space utilization, particularly in handling articles that need to be placed into compartments or outer packagings in a standing position.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a cardboard packaging supply, a gripping device, and an erecting device that simultaneously seizes and expands collapsed cardboard packagings to standing compartments or outer packagings, utilizing a manipulator and carrier system to minimize horizontal space requirements and maximize pacing by allowing horizontal and vertical movement for efficient expansion and erection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If existing apparatuses use traditional horizontal expansion methods, then the expansion process is simple, but the horizontal space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal expansion to vertical expansion by orienting the collapsed cardboard packaging vertically and expanding it in the vertical direction. The erecting device uses vertically arranged expanding elements that push against the packaging walls to unfold them upward, thereby reducing horizontal space requirements while achieving the same expansion function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional expansion approach by instead of pulling the packaging horizontally open, it pushes the packaging vertically upward to unfold. The gripping device secures the packaging in an inverted orientation, and the erecting device expands it from the bottom upward, fundamentally reversing the conventional expansion sequence and direction.
2Productivity
If existing apparatuses use traditional movement paths, then the apparatus structure is simple, but the pacing decreases due to inefficient space utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic manipulator system with multiple degrees of freedom that can adapt its movement path to optimize the expansion process. The manipulator coordinates horizontal and vertical movements to position the gripping device and erecting device optimally, enabling faster cycle times and improved pacing through adaptive, real-time motion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the gripping function and the erecting function into an integrated system where the manipulator controls both the gripping device for securing the packaging and the erecting device for expansion. This merging of functions allows coordinated operation that maximizes space utilization and improves overall pacing by eliminating separate handling steps.
3Area of stationary object
If collapsed cardboard packagings are handled in traditional horizontal orientation, then handling is straightforward, but space utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the handling orientation from horizontal to vertical by introducing a vertical feeding mechanism that presents collapsed packaging in an upright position. This vertical orientation allows the packaging to be expanded upward, maximizing use of vertical space and improving overall space utilization efficiency in the apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical conveying mechanism as an intermediary between the packaging supply and the expansion zone. This intermediary device orients the collapsed packaging vertically and transports it to the gripping device, facilitating the transition from traditional horizontal handling to the new vertical handling approach.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes an apparatus (01) and a method for expanding and erecting collapsed or folded cardboard packagings (02) to a standing position. The method includes holding the topmost cardboard packaging (02), coming from above, at its top flat side (23) of a cardboard packaging wall (22) and removing it from a stack (41) of flatly collapsed cardboard packagings (02). Subsequently also holding the cardboard packaging (02), at its bottom flat side (24) from below, and increasing the vertical distance between the top flat side (23), and the bottom flat side (24), by oppositely pulling so far until the cardboard packaging (02) has been expanded. Then releasing the top flat side (23) of the cardboard packaging (02), and rotating the lying, expanded set of cardboard packaging (02) still being held at its bottom flat side (24), where the rotating is about a horizontal pivoting axis (13). The bottom flat side (24) is subsequently also released to achieve an expanded and now erected set of compartments and/or the outer packagings (03). The apparatus (01) comprises a cardboard packaging supply (04) comprising at least one stack (41) of flatly collapsed cardboard packagings (02) arranged lying on top of each other, an erecting device (05) arranged next to the cardboard packaging supply (04) as seen in the direction of a horizontal axis (11), and a gripping device (06) for simultaneously seizing respectively one topmost cardboard packaging (02) from each stack (41) of the cardboard packaging supply (04).