Format Change Magazine Using One Feed Motor for Multiple Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container handling systems, particularly container packing machines, face challenges with complex and costly format change magazines due to numerous drive units, complicated assembly, high maintenance needs, and time-consuming format part changes.

Innovation Solution

A container handling system with a format change magazine that uses fewer magazine feed motors than compartments, allowing for automated format set insertion and ejection, featuring a single magazine feed motor per format change magazine, and a format set carrier with a locking mechanism for easy format changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If each compartment of the format change magazine is equipped with its own drive unit with a drive motor, then the format parts can be automatically pulled into and pushed out of each compartment, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly and the system becomes complex to assemble, maintain, and control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic format part insertion and ejectionVSAvoidnumber of drive units and control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single magazine feed motor is designed to perform multiple functions by sequentially serving different compartments. The motor acts as a universal drive unit that can pull format parts into any compartment and push them out, replacing the need for dedicated drive units in each compartment. This multi-functional approach maintains full automation capability while significantly reducing the number of motors and control complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple drive functions that were previously distributed across separate drive units in each compartment are merged into a single magazine feed motor. The motor is positioned to access multiple compartments and perform all insertion and ejection operations, combining what were previously separate functions into one centralized drive mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple drive motors are used in the format change magazine, then each compartment can be independently controlled, but the manufacturing cost and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent compartment controlVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The single magazine feed motor is designed with universal applicability to control all compartments. By positioning the motor to access multiple compartments and using a standardized interface, the same motor can independently control each compartment as needed, maintaining adaptability while reducing the total number of drive units from multiple to one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If a format change magazine with multiple drive units is used, then format parts can be quickly exchanged, but the system requires intensive maintenance and is prone to failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformat change speedVSAvoidsystem reliability and maintenance needs
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple drive units are merged into a single magazine feed motor, reducing the number of moving parts, motors, and mechanical interfaces in the system. This consolidation inherently improves reliability by eliminating potential failure points associated with multiple independent drive units while maintaining the capability for quick format changes through the single motor's ability to serve all compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If each compartment has its own drive motor, then the format parts can be precisely positioned, but the control system becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveformat part positioning precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single magazine feed motor is designed to provide precise positioning control for format parts in all compartments. The control system manages the motor's movements to achieve accurate positioning by controlling when and how the motor pulls parts into and pushes them out of each compartment, maintaining positioning precision while using a simpler single-motor control architecture rather than multiple independent motor controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4703276A2Container handling system with a format change magazine
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 KHS GMBH
  • EP4703276A2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4703276A2 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4703276A2 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a container treatment system (1) and in particular a container packaging machine with a format change magazine (3) and a method for automatically inserting a format set (2) into a format change magazine (3) at a container treatment system (1).In order to provide a container handling system (1) that is particularly inexpensive to manufacture, particularly easy to assemble, particularly easy to put into operation, and is also easy to maintain and particularly easy to control, it is provided that the container handling system (1), in particular the container packing machine, has a format set (2) adapted to the format of the containers to be treated and in particular to be gripped and packed for operating the container handling system (1), at least one format change magazine (3) with at least two compartments (4) each for receiving a format set (2), and at least one magazine feed motor (5) for automatically feeding in and/or moving out of a format set (2) from the format change magazine (3) during a format change of the containers to be treated, wherein the number of magazine feed motors (5) is less than the number of compartments (4) of the format change magazine (3).