Cigarette Pack Conveying Unit with Dual-Motion Suction Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveyor units for cigarette packs experience issues with cigarette packs bouncing against end-of-travel components due to transfer wheel thrust, leading to incorrect positioning within pockets.
Innovation Solution
A conveying unit with a transferring device using an elongated support arm equipped with a sucking gripping head, operated by distinct linear motion components, ensures precise transfer of cigarette packs into pockets by releasing them when the parallel motion component is zero, maintaining correct positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If transfer wheels are used to transfer cigarette packs, then the transfer speed and productivity are improved, but the cigarette packs bounce against the end-of-travel component causing incorrect positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical push-based transfer system (transfer wheels) with a suction-based gripping system. The gripping head uses vacuum suction to hold and transfer cigarette packs, eliminating the thrust that causes bouncing. This substitution maintains high transfer speed while achieving precise positioning by controlling the suction release at the target location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs pneumatic suction through a gripping head with suction openings to hold and transfer cigarette packs. The vacuum suction force replaces mechanical contact force, allowing precise control of the transfer process and eliminating the bouncing effect that occurs with wheel-based mechanical transfer.
2Force
If transfer wheels exert thrust on cigarette packs, then the transfer force is sufficient, but the cigarette packs cannot maintain correct position within pockets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical thrust-based transfer system with a vacuum suction system. The suction force provides sufficient holding force during transfer without the lateral thrust that causes positioning errors. The gripping head can precisely control the release point, ensuring accurate positioning within the pocket.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary suction to hold the cigarette pack firmly during transfer, counteracting any forces that might cause movement. By maintaining suction throughout the transfer process and only releasing at the precise moment of correct positioning, the system prevents positioning errors before they occur.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Guarantees accurate and precise transfer of cigarette packs into pockets, eliminating bouncing and ensuring correct positioning, thereby enhancing the stability and efficiency of the conveying process.
Implementation Method 1
a sucking gripping head (28) for transferring the packs (2) in succession from the device (7) to the device (12)
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and unit for conveying products (2), in particular cigarette packs, according to which the products (2) are transferred in succession between two conveyor devices (7, 12) connected to each other at a transfer station (13) using a transferring device (26) provided with a sucking gripping head (28) mounted on a support arm (27) and movable with two motion components (C1, C2) distinct from each other.