Container Raising Apparatus with Height Sensor for Stacking Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional raising/lowering conveyance apparatuses for article conveying containers, particularly small plastic containers with open tops, face instability during stacking due to misalignment of projecting bottom and upper end opening portions, leading to potential container falls and improper holding issues when external forces are applied or foreign matter is present.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates at least two sets of container holding means that raise/lower the container from both sides, with a sensor detecting the upper end height of the container to determine its posture, ensuring proper alignment and support by comparing detected and normal height values, and automatically adjusting operations to prevent abnormal stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional raising/lowering conveyance apparatuses are used for small plastic containers, then the containers can be conveyed and stacked, but the stacking becomes unstable due to misalignment of projecting bottom and upper end opening portions, leading to potential container falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors to detect the actual position and posture of containers during stacking operations. This detection information is fed back to the control system, which then makes real-time adjustments to the raising/lowering and horizontal movement of container holding means to correct misalignments between projecting bottom portions and upper end opening portions, ensuring stable stacking
Solution Approach 2:
The container holding means are designed with dynamic capabilities, allowing them to move not only vertically for raising/lowering but also horizontally for positioning. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to compensate for misalignments and achieve proper fitting between stacked containers, preventing instability
2Reliability
If containers are stacked without proper alignment detection, then the stacking process is simple and fast, but external forces or foreign matter cause improper holding and container falls
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors detect the upper end height of stacked containers and provide feedback to the control system. This allows the system to verify proper stacking and detect abnormalities caused by foreign matter or improper alignment, ensuring reliable holding without requiring complex mechanical detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment detection and adjustment mechanisms with sensor-based detection and control system-driven adjustments. This substitution maintains high holding accuracy while reducing mechanical complexity
3Productivity
If misaligned containers are stacked, then the stacking speed is maintained, but the containers become unstable and may fall when external forces are applied
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors container position and posture during stacking using sensors. When misalignment is detected, the system automatically adjusts the positioning of container holding means to correct the alignment before completing the stack, maintaining both speed and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of container position and posture before finalizing the stacking operation. This preliminary action allows the control system to make necessary adjustments to prevent misalignment, ensuring stability without significantly reducing stacking speed
Data Source
AI summary
A raising/lowering conveyance apparatus has at least two sets of container holders operable to be raised/lowered in conjunction with each other, and to be freely movable closer to or away from containers in the back-and-forth horizontal direction. A sensor operable to detect the upper end height of the transferred containers which have been transferred and raised is attached to a position near the lower end of each container holder, to determine abnormality in posture of the transferred containers through a comparison operation between the value of the upper end height of the transferred containers detected by the sensor and the normal value of the upper end height of the transferred containers calculated on the basis of the height of the container being handled.