Modular Divider Bar for Fast Format Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for grouping piece goods require significant downtime and labor for product changes due to the need to adjust and replace divider bars, which is time-consuming and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A modular divider bar system where the replaceable divider bar element is easily detachable and interchangeable without tools, allowing for quick adjustments and format changes by moving it through a service opening, reducing the need for complete system shutdowns and minimizing operator movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If divider bars are made adjustable for different product formats, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and adjustment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The divider bar is divided into a fixed base structure and a replaceable divider bar element. The replaceable element can be quickly exchanged without tools through a service opening, allowing different product formats to be accommodated while keeping the overall device structure simple and avoiding complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complete divider bars are replaced for format changes, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The divider bar element that needs to be changed is extracted as a separate replaceable component from the fixed base structure. This allows only the necessary part to be replaced quickly through a service opening without removing or replacing the entire divider bar, significantly reducing format change downtime while maintaining full adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If service opening is positioned to access divider bar ends, then ease of operation is improved, but operator movement and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service opening is positioned on the side of the apparatus rather than at the ends, changing the spatial dimension of access. This allows operators to perform replacements from one location without needing to move around the apparatus or access both ends, improving ease of operation while maintaining high productivity by eliminating unnecessary operator movement.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a handling apparatus (1) for piece goods (2) that comprises at least one divider finger (14, 46, 51), which is introducible to a transport plane (5), largely perpendicular, from below, with the at least one divider finger being connected to a divider bar element (13, 13*, 43, 50). The divider bar element is movably arranged below the transport plane (5) and is guided in a specified movement path. The divider bar element is detachably connected to a profile element (11, 41). During a format change, the divider bar element is toolessly detached and interchanged for another divider bar element, which has divider fingers that are positioned differently and/or spaced apart differently from the divider fingers of the removed divider bar element.