Cup Lid Collection Assembly for Flip-and-Stack Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional product conveying devices require multiple steps to transfer processed products to packaging equipment, limiting processing efficiency and increasing the number of products per cycle, especially for cup lids, which are often processed in batches of 25 but need packaging in units of 50, necessitating manual stacking.
Innovation Solution
A product collection device with a flipping module and separation-pushing plate module that rotates and aligns cup lids to facilitate stacking and transfer, using a flipping jig and multi-link assembly to efficiently move products to packaging equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple conveying steps are used to transfer processed products to packaging equipment, then the products can be transported, but the overall operating efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple conveying steps into a single integrated device. The collection device includes a collecting module that receives products from multiple processing modules simultaneously, and a conveying module that transfers all collected products to packaging equipment in one operation, thereby merging several separate conveying steps into one unified process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical stacking dimension to the conveying process. The collection device stacks collected products vertically in the collecting module before conveying, allowing multiple batches to be accumulated and transferred simultaneously in one operation, thus adding a spatial dimension that eliminates the need for sequential horizontal conveying steps.
2Quantity of substance
If the processing module outputs limited products per cycle (e.g., 25 cup lids), then the processing capacity is constrained, but increasing the output per cycle requires more complex processing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the collection function into multiple collecting racks within the collecting module. Each rack can independently hold a batch of products from a processing module, allowing the system to collect and stack multiple batches (e.g., two batches of 25 cup lids) simultaneously without increasing the complexity of individual processing modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection device acts as an intermediary between the processing modules and packaging equipment. It buffers the mismatch between limited processing output (25 units per cycle) and packaging requirements (50 units per cycle) by collecting and stacking multiple batches, then conveying the complete set in one operation, thus eliminating the need for manual stacking.
3Productivity
If manual steps are used to stack product batches together, then the packaging unit requirements can be met, but the operating efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device performs the stacking function automatically through its multi-rack collecting module and conveying mechanism. The system self-services by collecting products from multiple processing modules, stacking them vertically in the collecting racks, and conveying the complete stacked batch to packaging equipment without requiring manual intervention for stacking operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A product collection device includes a flipping module and a separation-pushing plate module. The flipping module includes a rotating element and a flipping jig. The flipping jig includes a first row collecting rack set and a second row collecting rack set. The flipping jig is flipped by the rotating element such that the inlets of the first and second row collecting rack sets are transformed from being parallel to a first direction to being parallel to a second direction. The separation-pushing plate module includes a multi-link assembly and a pushing plate. After the inlets are parallel to the second direction, the multi-link assembly drives the pushing plate to move along the second direction to push the plastic parts in the first row collecting rack set. Next, the multi-link assembly drives the pushing plate to push the plastic parts in the second row collecting rack set.