Cup Container Conveyance Device with Diverging Paths and Terminal Stoppers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for conveying cup-shaped containers as a bundle are complex and do not allow for efficient sequential distribution into multiple conveyance paths, making subsequent packaging processes inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A conveyance device with a first conveyance path that continuously conveys cup-shaped containers, diverging into multiple side-by-side paths with stoppers and a transfer mechanism to consolidate containers into bundles, allowing for alignment and packaging as a single string.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cup-shaped containers are distributed into multiple conveyance paths, then the conveyance system can handle larger quantities, but the device complexity increases due to multiple gripping and releasing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the conveyance process into two distinct stages: first distributing containers into multiple parallel paths, then collecting them into bundles at the end of each path. This segmentation allows simple stopper-based control rather than complex gripping mechanisms at each distribution point.
Solution Approach 2:
Containers are pre-aligned and stopped by conveyance stoppers at the terminal ends of diverging paths before bundling occurs. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex gripping mechanisms during the actual bundling process.
2Productivity
If articles are positioned at different locations in respective strings during distribution, then multiple conveyance paths can be utilized, but the mechanisms for gripping and releasing become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple conveyance paths are merged into bundled groups at the terminal ends where containers are collected. This merging approach allows simple stopper-based control at each path while achieving the productivity benefits of parallel conveyance.
Solution Approach 2:
Conveyance stoppers act as intermediary elements that temporarily hold containers at the terminal ends of diverging paths, enabling simple transfer to bundles without requiring complex gripping mechanisms.
3Productivity
If multiple conveyance paths are used for distribution, then more containers can be processed simultaneously, but aligning containers at terminal ends requires additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyance stoppers automatically align containers at the terminal ends of diverging paths through their inherent stopping function, eliminating the need for additional active alignment control mechanisms while maintaining high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] To develop a device for diverting, to multiple conveyance paths, a plurality of cup-shaped containers conveyed in a single file on a manufacturing line, and consolidating a prescribed number of the containers as a group so as to be sequentially and continuously conveyed.[Solution] The method that has been found to be effective involves providing a plurality of adjacently arranged successive conveyance paths that branch out from a conveyance path of a conveyance device that continuously conveys cup-shaped containers having prescribed shapes in a single file, sequentially conveying the cup-shaped containers on the branch conveyance paths, stopping the movement of the cup-shaped containers and aligning the containers at the end point of the branch conveyance paths, consolidating the containers as a group at the end point in each of the conveyance paths, and transferring the cup-shaped containers to another conveyance path.