Handling Apparatus Centering Device Continuous Packaging

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current automated loading systems for article groups into outer packagings, such as beverage crates, operate discontinuously, leading to low capacity and risks of misloading and collisions due to the need for frequent stopping and precise positioning, which hampers high-speed conveying and throughput.

Innovation Solution

A handling apparatus with a movable gripper head and a centering device that allows continuous conveying of outer packagings, using controllable gripper heads to seize and place article groups into outer packagings while a centering device guides articles to prevent collisions and ensure precise positioning, enabling simultaneous loading of multiple packagings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If outer packagings are stopped for each loading procedure to ensure precise positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to repeated stopping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous conveyance of outer packagings through the loading zone while articles are simultaneously fed and positioned. The conveying line operates without stopping, with articles being introduced and centered onto moving packagings, eliminating the need to halt the conveyor for each loading operation while maintaining precise positioning through synchronized feeding and centering mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a centering device as an intermediary mechanism between the article feeding system and the moving outer packaging. This centering device actively guides and positions articles onto the conveyed packagings, acting as a mediator that enables precise positioning during continuous motion, thereby resolving the conflict between maintaining positioning accuracy and sustaining continuous productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If conveying speed is increased to improve throughput, then productivity is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates due to reduced time for accurate placement

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidpositioning precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic synchronization between the conveying speed, article feeding rate, and centering device operation. All components are coordinated to move and act in harmony at the same conveying speed, allowing the system to maintain precise positioning even at higher speeds by ensuring that the article introduction and centering processes are perfectly timed with the packaging conveyance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The centering device serves as a dynamic intermediary that actively compensates for the reduced positioning time at higher conveying speeds. By providing active guidance and centering forces during the brief interaction window, the mediator enables accurate placement despite the faster overall system speed, thus maintaining precision while achieving high throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If articles are placed at shorter intervals to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but the risk of collisions and misloading increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct throughputVSAvoidrisk of collisions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The centering device acts as a protective intermediary between closely-spaced articles and the outer packaging. It provides active guidance and positioning for each article as it is being placed, preventing collisions with the packaging edges or partitions even when articles are introduced at very short intervals, thus enabling high-speed operation without sacrificing reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary centering and positioning actions on articles before they are fully deposited onto the outer packaging. The centering device pre-adjusts article positions and orientations during the approach phase, ensuring that even rapidly successive articles are properly aligned and spaced, preventing collisions and misloading before they can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11530060B2Handling apparatus and/or packaging apparatus and method used to package article groups in outer packaging

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 KRONES AG

AI summary

The invention includes a method used to place article groups into outer packagings (22) packaging apparatus (10). Article groups are transferred by a handling device (26) from a staging location (46) to a conveyor line (20) and are placed into the outer packagings (22). The conveyor line (20) serves to successively transport outer packagings (22). At least some of the articles (14) of a particular article group are directed and/or guided during a placing procedure by a centering device (32) assigned to the conveyor line (20) and moved along with the outer packagings (22), which are being transported on the conveyor line (20) and which are to be loaded with article groups.