Robot Gripper Pivoting Cover Section for Packaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer devices for product carriers with products, particularly in food processing, require additional pivoting mechanisms upstream or in packaging machines, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with a built-in pivoting mechanism that pivots the cover section of a product carrier relative to the base section, allowing for partial or complete covering of the product, integrated into a robot gripper, which can actuate the pivoting independently or through the gripper's movement, eliminating the need for separate upstream pivoting devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate upstream pivoting device is used to fold the cover section, then the cover section can be folded, but the device complexity increases and the workflow becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pivoting device is integrated into the transfer device, combining the transfer function and the pivoting function into a single device. This eliminates the need for a separate upstream pivoting device, reduces overall system complexity, and streamlines the workflow by performing both transfer and folding operations in one step.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device is designed to perform multiple functions: it transfers the product carrier and simultaneously pivots the cover section. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated separate devices for each operation, improving workflow efficiency while maintaining all required capabilities.
2Device complexity
If the pivoting device is integrated into the robot gripper, then the number of components is reduced, but the gripping force may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The robot gripper is divided into functionally independent components: the gripping elements that apply force to hold the product carrier, and the pivoting device that applies force to fold the cover section. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the gripping force, while still being part of the integrated robot gripper system.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cover section is fully folded before packaging, then product presentation is enhanced, but the packaging machine complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover section is folded in advance by the transfer device before the product enters the packaging machine. This preliminary action enhances product presentation and simplifies the packaging machine's task, as it only needs to handle already-folded products, reducing its complexity despite the benefit of enhanced presentation.
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 7~10
Figure 11
AI summary
A transfer device, in particular a robot gripper, for receiving at least one product lying on a base section of a product carrier and the product carrier from a conveying and/or processing device for the product and/or for the product carrier and for feeding the product together with the product carrier to a downstream device, in particular a packaging machine, is characterized in that the transfer device has a pivoting device for pivoting a cover section connected with the base section about a fold line running between the cover section and the base section.