Intermediate Rotary Wheel for Gripper Retraction and Pitch Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container conveyance devices in beverage production lines face issues with increased installation space and potential collisions due to the need for separate mechanisms to retract intermediate grippers and adjust conveyance pitch when the upstream rotary wheel is stopped.
Innovation Solution
A container conveyance device with an intermediate rotary wheel equipped with a rocking unit and a switching unit that adjusts the conveyance pitch and switches the intermediate grippers between normal and retracted states to prevent collisions, using a single intermediate rotary wheel to manage different conveyance pitches and maintain smooth operation even when the upstream rotary wheel is stopped.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a switching unit is provided to retract intermediate grippers when the upstream rotary wheel is stopped, then collision between grippers and containers is prevented, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the switching unit function into the intermediate rotary wheel's control system, allowing the intermediate grippers to be retracted when the upstream rotary wheel is stopped. This integration prevents collision between intermediate grippers and containers while avoiding the need for completely separate control mechanisms, thus reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyance pitch is adjusted by rocking the intermediate grippers, then the conveyance pitch mismatch between upstream and downstream rotary wheels is resolved, but device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the rocking unit function into the intermediate rotary wheel, enabling the intermediate grippers to rock and adjust conveyance pitch. This allows the system to handle pitch mismatches between upstream and downstream rotary wheels while maintaining a compact, unified structure that reduces installation space and simplifies the overall device.
3Reliability
If separate mechanisms are provided for retracting intermediate grippers and adjusting conveyance pitch, then each function can be optimized, but installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges both the switching unit and rocking unit functions into the intermediate rotary wheel assembly. The intermediate grippers are designed to perform both retraction and rocking motions through an integrated mechanism, eliminating the need for separate mechanical assemblies and significantly reducing installation space while maintaining functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate rotary wheel is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously handles gripper retraction and conveyance pitch adjustment. This universal design allows a single mechanism to perform multiple functions that would traditionally require separate dedicated components, thereby reducing the overall footprint of the container conveyance device.
Data Source
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AI summary
To achieve an action of retracting intermediate grippers GB and adjustment of a conveyance pitch by one intermediate rotary wheel. A conveyance pitch in a sixth rotary wheel H6 (downstream rotary wheel) is set to be smaller than a conveyance pitch in a fourth rotary wheel H4 (upstream rotary wheel). A rocking unit and a switching unit are provided to a fifth rotary wheel H5 (intermediate rotary wheel), the rocking unit causing a conveyance pitch in the fifth rotary wheel H5 to be equal to a conveyance pitch in the sixth rotary wheel H6 by rocking intermediate grippers GB at a downstream-side delivery position P2, at which delivered to the sixth rotary wheel H6, the switching unit switching an opening degree of the intermediate grippers GB to a retracted state in which interference with PET bottles 1 held by the fourth rotary wheel H4 can be prevented. When the fourth rotary wheel H4 is stopped, the switching unit switches the intermediate grippers GB from the normal state to the retracted state at an upstream-side delivery position P1, and from the retracted state to the normal state at the downstream-side delivery position P2.