Sheet Stacking Device With Airflow Support for Corrugated Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-speed box making machines, the increased production rate leads to unstable behavior of corrugated boxes, making it difficult to stack them in a correct posture due to negative pressure generated when the elevator lowers, causing instability in the collection process.

Innovation Solution

A sheet stacking device with a control device that operates blowing devices to stabilize the behavior of corrugated boxes by blowing air between the stacked and fed materials, using a receiving table that can be raised and lowered, and controlling the blowing devices based on the number of boxes being fed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the production rate is increased, then productivity is improved, but the behavior of corrugated boxes becomes unstable and stacking precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rateVSAvoidstacking precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses blowing devices that喷射 air between the fed corrugated box and the stacked boxes to provide aerodynamic support. This pneumatic mechanism stabilizes the box during the stacking process, preventing unstable behavior even at high production rates, thereby maintaining stacking precision while enabling high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The blowing device is activated in advance when the fed box approaches the stacked boxes, before actual contact occurs. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the negative pressure effect that would otherwise cause the box to adhere to the stacked pile, ensuring stable behavior from the outset of the stacking operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the elevator is lowered to discharge stacked boxes, then the hopper unit can receive new boxes, but negative pressure is generated that causes instability in the fed corrugated box

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehopper unit operationVSAvoidbehavior stability of fed box
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The blowing device compensates for the negative pressure generated during elevator lowering by injecting air between the fed box and the stacked boxes. This pneumatic pressure counteracts the suction effect, maintaining stable behavior of the fed box throughout the elevator operation cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The blowing device operates continuously during the elevator lowering process, ensuring uninterrupted aerodynamic support. This continuous action maintains stable box behavior throughout the entire discharge and reception cycle, preventing instability that would otherwise occur during the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If air is not blown to stabilize the fed box, then the device complexity is reduced, but the box behavior becomes unstable due to negative pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblowing device structureVSAvoidstacking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a relatively simple blowing device structure that喷射 air to create aerodynamic support. This pneumatic solution achieves high stacking reliability by stabilizing box behavior during the critical stacking moment, without requiring complex mechanical or electronic control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

The solution ensures accurate stacking of corrugated boxes in a predetermined posture by stabilizing their behavior, preventing early lowering and maintaining stability during the stacking process.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing device for blowing air between the fed box making sheet material and the box making sheet material stacked in the hopper unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

a receiving table for receiving and stacking the box making sheet material fed by the feeding unit, the receiving table being capable of being raised and lowered

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3904251B1Sheet stacking device, counter-ejector, and box making machine
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND MACHINERY SYST LTD
  • EP3904251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3904251B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3904251B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention provides a sheet stacking device, a counter-ejector, and a carton former and is provided with: a hopper unit (21) that stacks cardboard boxes (B); feed rollers (22) that feed a cardboard box (B) to the hopper unit (21); a first blower device (52) that blows air from above the hopper unit (21) toward the cardboard box (B) fed by the feed rollers (22); and a second blower device (53) that blows air between the cardboard box (B) stacked in the hopper unit (21) and the cardboard box (B) fed by the feed roller (22).