Hygiene Product Push-Off Slider and Compression Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for handling and compressing flat hygiene products like diapers and sanitary napkins at high speeds, such as up to 1800 products per minute, face challenges with misalignment and device wear due to limited suitability for increased packaging line performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a push-off device that partially moves with the objects in the transport direction, using two independently driven compression elements for pre- and main compression, with air removal via suction bores and optical testing for alignment, and a rotating station for improved packaging efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If objects are pushed off the feed conveyor by a stationary slider, then the push-off action is simple and reliable, but severe wear occurs on the slider and misalignment of objects happens at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed to move in the transport direction synchronously with the feed conveyor during the push-off action. This dynamic movement matches the conveyor speed, eliminating relative motion and wear between the slider and objects, while maintaining reliable push-off functionality at high working speeds up to 1800 products per minute
2Device complexity
If a single compression device is used, then the device complexity is low, but severe wear on the compression device occurs at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The compression process is divided into two separate compression devices: a first compression device for pre-compression and a second compression device for main compression. This segmentation distributes the mechanical stress and wear across two devices, reducing severe wear on individual components while maintaining overall system reliability at high speeds
3Device complexity
If compression force is applied without air removal, then the compression structure is simple, but excessive force is required leading to increased device wear
Solution Approach 1:
A suction device with suction openings is integrated into the compression device to remove air from between the objects during compression. This pneumatic assistance reduces the compression force required by eliminating air pockets that would otherwise increase resistance, thereby reducing wear on compression components while maintaining effective compression
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
Enhances handling and compression efficiency at high speeds by reducing misalignment and wear, improving the packaging process through precise alignment and reduced force requirements.
Implementation Method 1
air is removed from the group of objects, in particular in the second compression device, via suction bores preferably arranged in the area of a lower bottom wall of the compression device, in order to reduce the force required to compress the group of objects
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for handling (flat) objects (10), particularly hygiene products such as nappies, sanitary napkins or similar, said objects (10) being transported on a substantially continuously-driven feed conveyor (15) and being compressed following transport on said feed conveyor (15). The invention is characterised in that a group (14) of objects (10) is shifted from the feed conveyor (15) by a shifting device (18), particularly a slider (27), said slider (27) at least partially travelling in the transport direction (24) of the feed conveyor (15) with the objects (10) during the shifting action; in that the group (14) of objects (10) is preferably fed, by said shifting device (18), to a first compression device (30) and is at least partially (pre)compressed thereby; and in that the at least partially (pre)compressed group (14) of objects (10) is subsequently fed to a second compression device (34) and undergoes a further (main) compression therein.