Firewood Packaging Machine with Movable Floor for Log Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for packing firewood, such as bulk packaging on pallets or bundling, are labor-intensive and prone to irregular shapes due to log misalignment, especially when storage space or access is limited.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a rectangular-section container that includes a movable horizontal wall to guide the descent of logs after cutting, ensuring correct alignment and regular stacking, and a cutting unit with a thrust mechanism to extract bundles efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed bottom plane is used in the container, then the structure is simple and stable, but the logs cannot be realigned after cutting, leading to misalignment and irregular bundle shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The container bottom is designed as a movable floor that can descend vertically. After the cutting unit separates a bundle from the stack, the movable floor descends to guide the remaining logs downward, realigning them automatically. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by enabling log realignment (improving alignment precision) while maintaining a relatively simple container structure (minimal added complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The movable floor is positioned in advance at the initial bottom plane level during log loading. After cutting, it descends to a lowered position to guide log realignment. This preliminary positioning and subsequent movement enable automatic realignment without complex active control systems, balancing alignment precision with structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If manual bundling is used, then the equipment is simple, but the process is labor-intensive and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging machine is divided into distinct functional modules: a container for log stacking, a cutting unit for bundle separation, and a movable floor for log realignment. This segmentation enables automated high-speed operation (improving productivity) while keeping each module relatively simple and maintainable (controlling overall complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The movable floor serves multiple functions: it defines the initial bottom plane during loading, guides log descent after cutting, and enables automatic realignment. This multi-functionality improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate realignment mechanisms while avoiding excessive device complexity through functional integration.
3Extent of automation
If logs are loaded horizontally to form a stack, then the bundling process is automated, but log misalignment leads to irregular bundle shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The movable floor provides passive feedback-based realignment: after the cutting unit separates a bundle, the floor descends allowing logs to settle and realign under gravity and container wall guidance. This automatic feedback mechanism maintains bundle shape regularity (improving manufacturing precision) while preserving the automated horizontal loading process (maintaining extent of automation) without requiring active sensing or control systems.
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 machine reduces the risk of log misalignment, enabling the formation of regular bundles and optimizing the packing process, making it more efficient and less labor-intensive.
Implementation Method 1
Thanks to this solution, the descent of the stack after the cutting and bundle extraction step is guided
Data Source
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AI summary
A machine for packing firewood including a rectangular-section container (11) configured to receive a plurality of wood logs (3) oriented horizontally to form a stack (5) and having an upper opening (10) for the entry of the logs (3) and a lower side opening (19) for the exit thereof, a cutting unit (6) configured to cut the stack (5) along a cutting plane (T) placed at a predetermined height relative to a bottom plane (17) of the container (11) to separate a bundle (2) from the stack (5) and thrust means (36) to extract the bundle (2) from the side opening (19) of the container (11); the container (11) includes a first horizontal wall (23) mobile vertically between a raised position placed in the vicinity of the cutting plane (T) and a lowered position defining the bottom plane (17) of the container (11) so as to guide the descent of the stack (5) after the cutting and extraction step and consequently reducing the risk of misalignment of the logs, ensuring a regular stacking of the logs and an optimal conformation of the bundles (2).