Horizontal Article Displacement with Stamping Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for horizontally shifting groups of articles risk disrupting their formation due to relative movement and potential falling or slipping, especially during deceleration, limiting transfer speeds and overall performance in palletizing or similar systems.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a pushing device acting on the rear of the article group and a stamping device applied to the foremost articles to maintain formation, ensuring stability and preventing slipping or tipping during transfer by synchronizing movements with the pushing device, particularly during deceleration phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If transfer speed is increased to improve productivity, then throughput increases, but articles may shift relative to each other or fall over during deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer speedVSAvoidarticle formation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stamping device is positioned in advance at the target location and activates before the article group arrives. This preliminary positioning allows the device to be ready to immediately support the foremost articles when deceleration occurs, preventing shifting or falling over while maintaining high transfer speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The stamping device acts as an intermediary element between the pushing device and the target surface. It provides intermediate support to the foremost articles during the transfer process, absorbing the deceleration forces and preventing direct contact issues that would cause article instability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If transfer speed is reduced to maintain article formation, then stability is improved, but throughput and productivity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearticle formation stabilityVSAvoidtransfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The stamping device serves as a mediating element that enables high-speed transfer while maintaining stability. By providing support during deceleration, it allows the system to operate at higher speeds without compromising article formation, thus resolving the trade-off between speed and stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If push beams are used to transfer articles, then horizontal displacement is achieved, but articles at the front of the group are at greatest risk of falling over or slipping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfer speedVSAvoidarticle position control
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stamping device acts as an intermediary support element that compensates for the push beam's inability to control front article positioning. By providing rear support to the foremost articles, it prevents the slipping and falling over that would otherwise occur with push beam transfer alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The stamping device is pre-positioned and activated in advance to support the foremost articles before they can shift or fall over. This preliminary support action ensures article position control is maintained throughout the transfer process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3129311B1Method for displacing groups of articles horizontally
Publication Date: 2023.05.24 KRONES AG
  • EP3129311B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3129311B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3129311B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention discloses a method for displacing a group of articles or layer (10) of articles horizontally, the positions of a plurality of articles (16) forming the group of articles or layer (10) of articles relative to one another being largely maintained in the process. The displacement takes place by means of at least one pushing and/or conveying device (18, 20, 50), wherein an associated pressure-exerting device (30, 32, 52) positions itself, at least temporarily and just before, or at, the termination of a horizontal displacing operation, on an upper side of the articles (16) of the group of articles or layer (10) of articles or follows the same at a small vertical distance in the conveying or advancement direction (38, 42). The invention also discloses an apparatus for displacing a group of articles or layer (10) of articles horizontally on a module, or between at least two adjacent modules (12, 14, 38, 40, 44), on a transporting route and/or a palletizing apparatus.