Conveyor Billet Handling with Dividing Wall Safety Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging methods at manual filling stations pose safety risks due to the proximity of conveyor equipment to operators, which cannot always be fully covered, leading to potential hazards during the packing operation.
Innovation Solution
A method and equipment where the packing billet is moved to the manual filling station using a conveyor device that grabs the side edge of the billet, positioned behind a dividing wall, ensuring the conveyor is out of sight and the billet is safely handled, allowing only the billet to be manually positioned and packed, with subsequent safe removal via a shaft activated by a photocell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conveyor equipment is positioned close to the manual filling station to facilitate packing operations, then the efficiency and accessibility of the packing process is improved, but safety risks increase due to the proximity of moving conveyor parts to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into distinct zones separated by a dividing wall. The conveyor runs in a first zone behind the wall, while the packing station operates in a second zone in front of the wall. This spatial segmentation allows the conveyor to remain close to the packing station for efficiency while physically isolating the moving parts from the operator to eliminate safety risks.
Solution Approach 2:
A dividing wall acts as an intermediary barrier between the conveyor equipment and the operator at the manual filling station. The wall is positioned such that the conveyor runs behind it, allowing the packing billet to be conveyed close to the station while the wall blocks the operator's view and access to the moving conveyor parts, thus resolving the contradiction between proximity for efficiency and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the conveyor is positioned behind a dividing wall to improve safety, then the operator can no longer see the conveyor, but this may reduce awareness of the packing process status
Solution Approach 1:
The dividing wall serves as an intermediary structure that physically separates the conveyor from the operator while maintaining the functional connection through the packing billet. The wall is designed to block visibility of the conveyor parts behind it, ensuring that even if the operator could see the conveyor, the wall prevents direct line of sight to moving parts, thus prioritizing safety over visibility.
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
This solution eliminates the risk of conveyor parts being close to the operator, allowing safe and efficient packing by ensuring only the packing billet is within reach, with the conveyor components remaining hidden, and the packing process is safeguarded by a photocell-activated shaft movement.
Implementation Method 1
the conveyor device is adjusted to grab the side edge of the billet seen in the direction of the packing billet
Implementation Method 2
a photocell recognizes the packing space to be free
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Method for performing a packing operation in a safe way at a manual filling station (5) of the packing operation to which manual filling station a packing billet (8) is moved mechanically with the help of a conveyor device (10) and at which station the item (12) to be packed is set manually on top of the packing billet (8). The packing billet (8) is moved to the manual filling station (5) with the help of a conveyor device with which the side edge of the billet is grabbed seen in the direction of the packing billet (8) in such a way that the mentioned edge is separated from the manual filling station (5) with the help of a dividing wall (2) located in the direction of the packing billet (8) while the main part of the packing billet (8) is moving at the same time to the manual filling station (5).