Label Stack Feeding System Torque Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing label feeding systems rely on complex and expensive spring mechanisms to maintain constant force on label stacks, which is dependent on stack thickness, making them inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A system where the drive mechanism generates pretensioning force from the torque of a continuously driven motor, eliminating the need for a spring device and ensuring consistent force application regardless of stack thickness, using a motor-driven spindle or endless belt mechanism with a continuous slip clutch for precise torque control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a spring device is used to press the stack of labels into the removal position, then the stack can deviate to the rear when a label is removed, but the force acting on the stack becomes dependent on the degree of filling and the device becomes complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of stack deviationVSAvoidspring mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the spring device from the system and replaces it with a motor-driven carriage mechanism. The motor (20) drives the carriage (26) along the guide (50) to position the stack of labels (12) at the removal position (14), eliminating the need for a separate spring mechanism while maintaining the ability to accommodate stack deviation through the motorized positioning system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical spring-based biasing system with an electromechanical motor-driven system. The motor (20) converts electrical energy to mechanical motion, driving the carriage (26) to precisely position the labels, thereby substituting a complex mechanical spring system with a more controllable and simpler electromechanical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a spring device is used to press the stack of labels, then the device can accommodate stack deviation, but the force acting on the stack is dependent on the degree of filling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of stack deviationVSAvoidforce consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The motor-driven carriage system provides controlled positioning of the stack of labels. The motor (20) can be controlled to apply consistent force to position the stack at the removal position (14) regardless of stack thickness, ensuring force consistency while the controlled movement accommodates variations in stack dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a dynamically controllable motor-driven carriage instead of a static spring system. The motor (20) can adjust its output to maintain consistent positioning force on the stack of labels (12) regardless of the degree of filling, while the carriage movement dynamically adapts to accommodate stack deviation during label removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If a spring mechanism is used to exert prestressing force, then the stack can be pressed into the removal position, but the entire device becomes relatively complicated and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepretensioning forceVSAvoidoverall device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the positioning and pretensioning functions into a single motor-driven carriage mechanism. The carriage (26), driven by motor (20), performs both the positioning of the stack of labels (12) and the application of pretensioning force, eliminating the need for separate spring mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor-driven carriage (26) serves multiple functions: it positions the stack of labels at the removal position, applies pretensioning force during label removal, and accommodates stack deviation. This multi-functional approach replaces the specialized spring mechanism, reducing device complexity while maintaining all necessary functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The system provides a simple, cost-effective, and consistent label feeding mechanism that maintains constant force on label stacks, independent of thickness, and reduces mechanical complexity by eliminating the need for a spring mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

the drive mechanism derives the biasing force for biasing the carriage to the unloading position from the torque of the drive motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorque: Torque

Implementation Method 2

the continuous slip clutch, which can be a friction clutch, for example, constantly transfers a certain torque to the drive mechanism via the continuous slip clutch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

The permanent slip clutch is preferably a permanent slip clutch that works according to the magnetic hysteresis principle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic hysteresis: Magnetic Hysteresis

Data Source

PatentEP3383751B1System for feeding a label stack
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 KHS GMBH
  • EP3383751B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3383751B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3383751B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a system for feeding a stack of labels (12), said system comprising a guide (24; 50) and a carriage (26; 62) which is guided on the guide, has at least one urging element (18) for the stack of labels, is urged on the guide against the removal position (14) for the stack of labels, and can be moved along the guide by a driving mechanism (22; 42; 72) that is driven by a driving motor (20). According to the invention, the driving mechanism (22; 42; 72) receives the force for urging the carriage (26; 62) into the removal position from the torque of the driving motor (20).