Compactor Selection Device Assembly Position Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compactor systems for recycling containers are often complex, require heavy equipment for maintenance, and disrupt operations when serviced, making them inefficient and logistically challenging for handling large quantities of containers like plastic, glass, and metal.

Innovation Solution

A compactor arrangement with a compact design that allows for easy assembly, maintenance, and operation without specialist personnel, featuring a selection device that can cover the transport device, enabling continuous operation during maintenance and allowing for independent servicing of the compactor and transport device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the compactor system is designed with integrated components for compacting and transporting containers, then the system achieves functional integration and space efficiency, but the complexity of maintenance increases and requires heavy equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem footprintVSAvoidmaintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compactor assembly is divided into separable components: the compactor unit can be detached from the transport device. This segmentation allows the compactor to be removed for maintenance using light equipment while the transport device remains in place, resolving the contradiction between integrated design and maintenance complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compactor is extracted as an independent removable component from the overall system. This extraction enables the compactor to be serviced separately without affecting the transport device, reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining functional integration during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Device complexity

If the compactor and transport device are integrated as a single unit, then the system structure is simplified, but maintenance disrupts operational continuity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidoperational continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into a compactor unit and a transport device that can operate independently. The transport device continues to function while the compactor is being maintained, preserving operational continuity while maintaining simplified system structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transport device maintains continuous operation during compactor maintenance. Containers continue to be transported through the system even when the compactor is serviced, ensuring productivity is not disrupted while keeping the overall system structure simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of repair

If the compactor is designed for easy maintenance access, then the ease of repair improves, but the protection against access during operation may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance accessibilityVSAvoidsafety protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The selection device is designed to be dynamically repositionable between an operating position (providing protection during operation) and an assembly position (providing access for maintenance). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between safety protection and maintenance accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The selection device is pre-positioned in the operating position during normal operation to provide protection. Before maintenance begins, it is moved to the assembly position to provide access. This preliminary positioning ensures both safety during operation and ease of repair when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3473423B1Compactor assembly, compactor device and method for mounting a compactor assembly
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 WINCOR NIXDORF INT GMBH
  • EP3473423B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3473423B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3473423B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

According to various embodiments, a compactor arrangement (100) can comprise: a carrying frame (204) for carrying a compactor (102); a transport device (200t) for transporting containers (104) in the compactor arrangement (100); a selection device (200s) for guiding containers (104) transported by means of the transport device (200t); a bearing arrangement (502), wherein the selection device (200s) is movably mounted by means of the bearing arrangement (502) such that the selection device (200s) can be moved into an operating position (501b) and into an assembly position (501m), wherein the selection device (200s) is arranged such that in the operating position (501b) a container (104) transported by means of the transport device (200t) can be selectively fed to the compactor (102), and that in the assembly position (501m) the selection device (200s) at least partially covers the transport device (200t).