Movable Stock Supply Shelf for Accessible Dunnage Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dunnage conversion machines face challenges in loading new sheet stock material, especially in confined or obstructed spaces, where operators struggle to reach high-mounted supply trays due to limited access, such as over or across a conveyor.
Innovation Solution
A stock supply assembly with a linkage mechanism that moves a support shelf between a lower loading position and a higher operating position, maintaining consistent orientation, and includes a latching mechanism for secure positioning, allowing easy loading and alignment with the dunnage conversion machine, even in tight spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stock supply shelf is mounted at a high operating position to clear the conveyor, then the dunnage conversion machine can operate without interfering with the conveyor, but operators cannot easily access the shelf to load new sheet stock material
Solution Approach 1:
The stock supply shelf is made movable between a raised operating position and a lowered loading position through a linkage mechanism. This dynamic positioning allows the shelf to be high during operation to clear the conveyor, and low during loading for operator accessibility, resolving the contradiction between vertical clearance and ease of operation
2Volume of moving object
If the stock supply shelf is mounted in a confined space over the conveyor, then the dunnage conversion machine can be compact, but operators struggle to reach and load the shelf
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism enables the shelf to dynamically transition between raised and lowered positions. In the confined space over the conveyor, the shelf operates in a raised position to maximize space utilization, then lowers to an accessible position for loading, resolving the contradiction between compact space utilization and operator accessibility
3Stability of the object's composition
If the support structure is fixed at a high position, then the dunnage conversion machine maintains proper alignment with the conveyor, but loading new sheet stock material becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism is designed to maintain the horizontal orientation of the stock supply shelf throughout its vertical movement between raised and lowered positions. This ensures that the shelf remains properly aligned with the dunnage conversion machine's stock supply opening during both operation and loading, resolving the contradiction between stable alignment and loading accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the fixed mounting structure and the movable shelf, providing controlled motion that maintains proper alignment while enabling vertical displacement for accessibility
Data Source
AI summary
A stock supply assembly for a dunnage conversion machine includes a stock material support having a support structure, such as a shelf for a stack of fan-folded sheet stock material. The shelf is movable between a relatively lower loading position and a relatively higher operating position vertically displaced relative to the loading position. In the process, the support structure maintains a consistent orientation as the support structure moves between the loading position and the operating position.