Container Carrier Feed Drum for High-Speed Multipack Application

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container carrier application technologies for rigid, 100% curbside recyclable materials like HDPE and PET plastics are inefficient and cannot handle high volumes at high speeds, necessitating cumbersome manual application or slow processes.

Innovation Solution

A system and apparatus utilizing a robotic applicator with an applicating drum, push down wheel, and cutoff system to efficiently apply container carriers to multiple containers, forming multipacks, with features like a magazine, feed apparatus, and synchronized nip rollers to ensure continuous operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional manual application methods are used for rigid container carriers, then operational simplicity is maintained, but application speed and productivity are severely limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical application with an automated robotic system that uses a magazine feed mechanism, applicating drum, and push-down wheel to automatically apply rigid container carriers at high speed, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates self-aligning features where the applicating drum and push-down wheel automatically position and apply the carrier to containers without complex external alignment mechanisms, maintaining operational simplicity while achieving high-speed automated application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If slow automated systems are used for rigid carriers, then application consistency is improved, but volume throughput cannot be handled at high speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume throughputVSAvoidapplication consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous operation through a magazine feed system that continuously supplies carriers to the applicating drum, which continuously applies carriers to containers moving through the system, maintaining both high volume throughput and application consistency through uninterrupted processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses dynamic adjustment of the push-down wheel pressure and applicating drum speed to match container flow rates and carrier properties, enabling consistent application across varying production volumes and container types while maintaining high throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12534244B2Feed system for container carrier applicating machine

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A system, method and apparatus for applying container carriers to unitize a plurality of containers. A supply of container carriers are provided in a stack and grouped into sticks of multiple adjacent container carriers. A magazine accommodates the stack of container carrier sticks and a carrier feed draws a single container carrier stick from the magazine. A transport section comprising two or more container carrier sticks aligned in a queue provides single container carrier sticks to an applicating drum configured to apply to a corresponding group of containers.