Goods Handling on Support Surfaces for Gentle Item Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical handling systems for separating general cargo items are complex, space-consuming, and prone to damage the cargo, especially with heavy or weakly packaged items, requiring manual intervention and inefficient use of personnel.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that displaces target goods by applying forces between the goods and a support surface, allowing partial weight transfer through the surface, reducing the need for lifting and minimizing damage, while using sensors to identify and handle goods based on their properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical handling systems are used to separate general cargo items, then separation efficiency is improved, but cargo damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is positioned horizontally at the same level as the bulk cargo, eliminating the need to lift cargo against gravity. The handling device moves cargo horizontally along the support surface, maintaining equipotential conditions that prevent packaging damage while enabling efficient separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional vacuum-based mechanical gripping systems with a horizontal displacement mechanism. Instead of using suction forces to lift and move cargo, the system uses a support surface to enable horizontal sliding movement, reducing mechanical stress on cargo packaging.
2Ease of operation
If vacuum gripping is used to lift unit loads, then handling capability is improved, but packaging strength requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the support surface horizontally and moving cargo along it rather than lifting vertically, the system eliminates the need for strong packaging to withstand vacuum gripping forces and gravitational lift, enabling handling of weakly packaged unit loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the vertical lifting component from the handling process and replaces it with horizontal displacement. This removes the requirement for strong vacuum gripping and packaging strength, as cargo is moved without being lifted against gravity.
3Productivity
If inclined roller conveyors with singulators are used, then cargo separation is achieved, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the inclined roller conveyor and singulator components from the system. By using a horizontal support surface with a simpler handling device, cargo separation is achieved without requiring the complex, space-consuming inclined conveyor structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using an inclined conveyor that requires vertical space and complex mechanics, the system inverts the approach by using a horizontal support surface, simplifying the mechanism and reducing installation space while maintaining separation functionality.
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 method and device enable efficient, space-saving, and gentle handling of goods, reducing energy consumption and preventing damage by maintaining contact with the support surface, allowing for individualized handling and increased throughput.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one target piece of goods preferably rests directly or indirectly on a support surface
Implementation Method 2
a force preferably acts between the target piece of goods and the handling device, as well as a force between the target piece of goods and the support surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided for handling at least one target piece of goods (2), in particular when singling out the at least one target piece of goods (2) from a plurality of piece goods (2, 3). The at least one target piece of goods (2) rests directly or indirectly on a support surface (4). The method comprises displacing the at least one target piece of goods (2) by means of a handling device (5). During the displacing, a force (9, 10) acts between the target piece of goods (2) and the handling device (5), as well as a force (9, 10) between the target piece of goods and the support surface (4). Furthermore, a device (1) is provided for handling at least one target piece of goods (2), in particular when singling out the at least one target piece of goods (2) from a plurality of piece goods (2, 3).