Conveying Device Format Set Transfer for Food Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing packaging process for food portions, such as sliced sausages or cheeses, is inefficient, leading to suboptimal utilization of the conveyor system's capacity due to slow packaging speeds and the need for multiple robots, which increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a transfer device that forms a format set of portions from multiple transport movers, allowing simultaneous transfer to a packaging device, thereby increasing packaging speed without affecting the conveyor's performance, and utilizing a formatter or conveyor belt to align and position portions for efficient packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single packaging device processes portions sequentially, then packaging precision is maintained, but productivity is limited due to slow packaging speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the packaging process into multiple parallel workstations (first packaging device, second packaging device, etc.), each capable of independently packaging portions. This segmentation allows simultaneous processing of multiple portions across different stations, dramatically increasing throughput while maintaining precision at each individual station.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential processing (single dimension of time) to parallel processing by adding spatial dimensions with multiple packaging devices arranged along the conveyor path. Portions at different positions on the conveyor can be packaged simultaneously at different stations, effectively utilizing the conveyor's length as an additional dimension for parallelism.
2Productivity
If multiple robots are deployed to increase packaging capacity, then productivity improves, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging devices are designed to perform multiple functions: they can package different types of portions (sliced meat, cheese, etc.), handle various packaging materials, and adapt to different portion sizes. This multi-functionality allows a single packaging device type to replace multiple specialized robots, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system itself plays an active role in positioning and presenting portions to the packaging devices, reducing the need for additional robotic manipulators. The portions are automatically presented in the correct orientation and position by the conveyor's movement and the transport movers, allowing the packaging devices to focus solely on the packaging action.
3Productivity
If the conveyor system operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but the packaging process becomes a bottleneck due to slower packaging speeds
Solution Approach 1:
Portions are pre-positioned and pre-oriented on the conveyor by the transport movers before reaching the packaging devices. The conveyor system ensures portions arrive at each packaging station already in the correct position and orientation, eliminating the need for slow manual or robotic repositioning at the packaging stage. This preliminary preparation allows the packaging devices to operate at optimal speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous operation of the conveyor system with portions being constantly fed to multiple packaging devices in sequence. While one packaging device is processing a portion, the conveyor simultaneously presents portions to other stations, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous useful action across the entire packaging line, thereby matching the high conveyor speed with sustained packaging throughput.
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
Significantly enhances packaging throughput by allowing multiple portions to be packed simultaneously, reducing the need for multiple robots and lowering costs while maintaining high system output.
Implementation Method 1
the magnetic field is provided by permanent magnets... the transport mover equipped with the permanent magnet is pulled along the transport path by the magnetic field moving along the stator
Implementation Method 2
the drive for the transport mover can, for example, be designed as a linear motor, in particular as a linear synchronous motor
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system, comprising a conveying device for moving portions, which each comprise at least one slice cut from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing device, in particular a high-speed slicer, at least one packaging device for packaging the portions, and at least one transfer apparatus for transferring the portions from the conveying device to the packaging device, wherein the conveying device comprises a plurality of individually movable transport movers for transporting portions, a track system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein each transport mover comprises at least one runner, which interacts with the track system, and at least one carrier for portions, which is attached to the runner, and wherein the transfer apparatus is designed to form a one- or multi-row format set from a plurality of portions of different transport movers and to transfer the format set as a whole to the packaging device.