Elastically Deformable Carousel Appendages for Syringe Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for transferring articles like syringes are prone to damage due to imperfect coupling caused by dimensional tolerances, leading to potential breakage during loading and unloading, especially when dealing with fragile and poorly-deformable materials.
Innovation Solution
A transfer carousel with elastically deformable appendages and an oscillating tooth mechanism that absorbs stress during imperfect coupling, allowing for flexible adaptation to articles of varying sizes and preventing damage by locking and releasing articles securely during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid shaped seating is used on the transfer carousel to securely hold articles, then the article retention is improved, but the risk of damage to fragile articles with dimensional tolerances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seating is designed with elastic deformability, allowing it to change its physical state from rigid to flexible during operation. This enables the seating to adapt its shape and dimensions to accommodate articles with manufacturing tolerances while maintaining secure retention, thereby reducing damage risk without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The seating transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic elastic structure that can deform and recover. This dynamic behavior allows the seating to absorb dimensional variations of articles during loading and unloading phases, preventing damage while ensuring reliable retention throughout the transport cycle
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seating is made elastic to accommodate dimensional variations, then the adaptability to articles of varying sizes is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seating is implemented as an elastic element or flexible structure that can deform to accommodate articles of varying sizes. This flexible shell approach provides adaptability without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving the desired versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic seating serves multiple functions: it provides article retention, accommodates dimensional variations, and absorbs shock during loading/unloading. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single elastic component rather than multiple specialized mechanisms, thereby avoiding increased structural complexity
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 device effectively prevents damage to articles by accommodating dimensional irregularities through elastic deformation and secure blocking, ensuring safe transfer from one workstation to another while maintaining simplicity and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The transfer carousel (2) peripherally exhibits a series of appendages (4) which are suitably distanced and oriented substantially tangentially, and are elastically deformable in flexion in a radial direction with respect to the carousel (2)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4A
Figure 5~5A
AI summary
A device for receiving and transporting articles, in particular syringes and the like, of a type comprising a transfer carousel (2) destined to be rotated about a substantially vertical axis (3) peripherally bearing a series of seatings (6) for receiving single articles (5) from a supply station (10) and for transferring the articles (5) to a receiving station (20). The seatings (6) are fashioned from respective shaped and recessed surfaces realised on respective appendages (4) peripherally associated to the carousel (2) and elastically deformable such as to absorb any variations in size of the articles (5).