Glove Stacking Apparatus with Movable Floor and Flaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in efficiently stacking and packing disposable medical gloves to maximize storage capacity while minimizing contamination risks and handling costs, particularly in hospital settings where manual stacking is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A glove stacking apparatus comprising a glove stacking station with a movable floor and flaps, synchronized by a processor, which folds and stacks gloves within a packing recess using a glove manipulator and vacuum pressure to optimize glove alignment and compression, ensuring efficient stacking and reduced contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual stacking of gloves is used, then flexibility and simplicity are maintained, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The glove stacking apparatus is designed to perform stacking operations automatically without requiring manual intervention for each glove. The system uses self-contained mechanisms including conveyors, folding flaps, and compression devices that operate autonomously once initialized, allowing the apparatus to service itself through automated sequences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical stacking operations with an automated mechanical system. The apparatus uses motorized conveyors, pneumatic or electrically actuated flaps, and automated compression mechanisms to substitute human hands and arms, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining mechanical reliability.
2Ease of operation
If gloves are packed loosely to facilitate easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but storage density and volume efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus dynamically adjusts the compression force applied to the glove stack based on the desired balance between accessibility and density. The compression mechanism can be programmed to apply optimal pressure that maintains glove flexibility for easy removal while minimizing the overall stack volume for efficient storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters such as compression force, stacking orientation, and flap folding angles to optimize both accessibility and volume. By adjusting these parameters, the apparatus creates a compact stack that still allows users to easily access and remove individual gloves from the top or front.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the movable floor remains stationary, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to varying stack heights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable floor is designed to dynamically adjust its position vertically to accommodate varying stack heights of gloves. The floor can move up or down along guided rails or slots, allowing the apparatus to adapt to different glove sizes, quantities, and stacking configurations without requiring manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable floor serves multiple functions: it supports the growing stack during formation, adjusts to different final stack heights, and can be repositioned for different glove types. This multi-functional design provides adaptability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
4Manufacturing precision
If flaps are kept simple and fixed, then manufacturing ease is improved, but manufacturing precision and alignment deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flaps are designed to move dynamically during the stacking process, transitioning from a retracted position to an active folding position. This movement allows the flaps to precisely align with and fold the gloves at the correct locations, achieving high alignment precision while keeping the flap structure itself relatively simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap mechanism incorporates feedback through its movement sequence, where the position and motion of previous flaps inform the positioning of subsequent flaps. This coordinated motion ensures precise alignment and folding of each glove layer, achieving manufacturing precision through synchronized operation rather than complex individual flap designs.
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 apparatus enables the automatic and efficient stacking of gloves, maximizing storage density and reducing contamination risks by ensuring precise alignment and compression, thereby enhancing infection control and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The movable flap has a surface that is permeable to gaseous flow through said surface, the source of vacuum pressure is separate from the flap and said vacuum air pressure being applied through said permeable surface of the movable flap
Data Source
AI summary
A glove stacking apparatus for forming a stack of gloves for packing into a box comprises a packing recess for receiving gloves to be stacked and for containing the stack as the stack is being formed, and a glove placement means for moving and depositing gloves at the recess one of top of another for forming the stack of gloves. The recess has a pair of opposite side edges. A movable floor within the recess is lowered as the stack of gloves grows whereby the stack of gloves continues to be retained within the recess as gloves are added to the stack. The glove placement means is arranged to deposit gloves with a portion of each glove overlapping alternately one or the other of the opposite side edges of the recess as subsequent gloves are deposited. The apparatus also comprises a pair of movable flaps adjacent the opposite side edges of the recess for folding alternately inwards towards the recess the portions of that gloves that overlap alternately one or another of the opposite side edges of the recess.