Deflectable Roller Docking Station for Labeling Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing labeling machines face issues with alignment and lifting of labeling units, leading to potential damage due to uneven floors and the need for manual alignment, which can be cumbersome and unsafe, especially when handling multiple units.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with a device for fixing the labeling unit in a first position, featuring a deflectable part with a roller that can latch into a latching device, allowing for precise alignment and automatic securing, reducing the need for manual holding during lifting and lowering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual alignment and holding of labeling units is used during docking and lifting, then the units can be positioned for lifting, but alignment accuracy deteriorates and damage risk increases due to operator difficulty in precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable element with roller automatically guides and centers the labeling unit during docking through self-aligning mechanical interaction, eliminating the need for operator intervention in precise positioning while ensuring accurate alignment with the lifting device
Solution Approach 2:
The deflectable element pre-positions and centers the labeling unit before lifting occurs, so that when the lifting device engages, the unit is already in the correct position, preventing misalignment damage and eliminating the need for operator holding during the critical alignment phase
2Productivity
If one operator handles one labeling unit at a time during lifting, then safety is maintained, but productivity decreases because multiple units cannot be handled simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple labeling units are pre-positioned and centered by the deflectable element before lifting, so they are ready for simultaneous lifting without requiring operator intervention for alignment, enabling one operator to safely handle multiple units at once
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical self-aligning system ensures each unit is automatically centered and held in position without operator support, providing inherent stability that allows multiple units to be handled simultaneously without compromising reliability or safety
3Productivity
If the labeling unit is not perfectly aligned with the lifting device, then lifting can proceed, but damage occurs to the unit or lifting mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectable element with roller performs preliminary centering and alignment of the labeling unit before the lifting device engages, ensuring perfect alignment is achieved automatically, which prevents damage while allowing rapid lifting to proceed without manual adjustment delays
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
Enhances alignment accuracy, prevents damage from misalignment, and allows for simultaneous operation of multiple labeling units without operator intervention, improving safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
On the side of the deflectable element, where it is not attached to the docking station or the labeling unit, a roller protruding upwards or downwards is arranged
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a docking station (1) for a labeling unit (2), comprising a device for fixing a labeling unit in a first position, from which the labeling unit can then be raised or lowered into a working position, wherein the device comprises a first part (4) fitted to the labeling unit and a second part (5) fitted to the docking station, wherein one of the two parts (4, 5) can be deflected by the other part in order to move the labeling unit up to the docking station, and one of the two parts comprises a latching device (6), into which the other part can latch, such that the labeling unit is fixed in the first position in relation to the docking station. The invention further relates to a labeling machine which comprises such a docking station.