Mechanical Gripper for Staggered Biscuit Slug Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handling systems for flat baked products like biscuits and cookies are inefficient and complex, requiring multiple steps for slug formation and handling, which increases handling time, machine footprint, and synchronization complexity.
Innovation Solution
A handling system with a gripper device comprising a longitudinal retainer and holding/pushing elements, allowing for the direct formation of slugs from staggered groups of products using an industrial robot with a mechanical gripper and vision system, integrating loading, forming, and unloading steps into a single operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate steps are used for slug formation (grouping, compacting, separating), then the handling can be performed with simpler individual components, but the overall handling time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate handling steps (grouping, compacting, and separating) into a single integrated gripper device. The gripper simultaneously performs these operations by loading a group of products, forming a slug through compacting action, and preparing for separation in one unified mechanism, thereby eliminating the need for multiple separate devices and reducing overall handling time.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper device is designed as a multi-functional component that can perform multiple operations: loading individual products, grouping them into stacks, compacting them into slugs, and separating them. This universal device replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized devices, improving productivity while maintaining ease of component design through a single versatile mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate devices are used for slug formation steps, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the machine footprint and length of production line increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional devices into a single compact gripper unit that performs grouping, compacting, and separating operations. This consolidation significantly reduces the machine footprint and production line length while maintaining the functional optimization that would be achieved through separate specialized devices.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate stages are used for handling, then each stage can be independently controlled, but the synchronization complexity and transfer matching become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple handling stages into a single integrated gripper device, the patent eliminates the synchronization complexities that arise when coordinating multiple separate devices. The unified mechanism performs all operations sequentially within one device, removing the need for complex inter-device synchronization and transfer matching while maintaining independent control through a single coordinated mechanism.
4Productivity
If a single integrated gripper is used for all operations, then handling time is reduced and productivity increases, but the gripper design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper device is segmented into distinct functional components: a holding element for grasping products, a pushing element for compacting, and a retainer for maintaining the slug formation. This segmentation allows the complex integrated gripper to be designed and manufactured more easily by dividing it into manageable functional units, each optimized for its specific operation while contributing to the overall high-speed handling capability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
What is discloses is a handling system (100), gripper device and a gripper (110) for a for forming and handling slugs of flat baked products (102) such as biscuits and cookies, said gripper being arranged for a mechanical type gripper as end-effector and being arranged to load a group of staggered products, form a slug from said group, and unload said slug into said outfeed transport device, said gripper comprising: - a longitudinal retainer comprising elongated wall elements (112) extending along a longitudinal direction (L) of said gripper and configured for an open position for loading said group of staggered products, and a closed position for unloading said slug into a tray transported by a transport device, wherein said wall elements can be displaced as a jaw type gripper, moving in transverse direction, away from each other into said open position and towards each other into said closed position; - a holding element (115), disposed at a first longitudinal end of said retainer, and configured for an open position for loading said group of staggered products, and a closed position for scooping under the first product of the group; - a pushing element (113), disposed at a second, longitudinal end of said retainer, opposite of said first end, and configured for displacement of said pushing element in longitudinal direction into said retainer for compacting said group of staggered products into a slug.