Multi-Stage Turret Handling Equipment with Re-Phase Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machinery for multi-stage processes, such as metal container shaping, requires a large floor footprint due to the need for numerous circular turrets and extensive space for tooling, leading to inefficient use of factory space and increased transportation time between stages.
Innovation Solution
The design features a rotatable process turret with grouped pockets, each with associated tooling, and re-phase means to transfer articles between groups, allowing multiple stages to be completed on a single turret or a series of turrets arranged in a line or loop, optimizing space usage and reducing the number of turrets required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional in-line conveyor systems or multiple circular turrets are used to transport articles through multi-stage processes, then the articles can be presented to different tooling for each stage, but the machinery occupies a large floor footprint and takes up significant factory space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear in-line conveyor arrangements to a circular turret configuration, utilizing radial space around a central axis. Articles are transported in pockets around the periphery of the turret, converting linear motion into rotational motion around a compact central hub, thereby dramatically reducing the floor area required for the same multi-stage processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The circular turret serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the transport mechanism and the positioning device for articles. The same rotating structure that moves articles between stages also provides the necessary positioning relative to different tooling stations, eliminating the need for separate conveyor and positioning systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple circular turrets are arranged to complete multi-stage processes, then different tooling can be applied at each stage, but the number of turrets increases the overall size and space occupation of the machinery
Solution Approach 1:
The circular turret is divided into multiple pockets arranged around its periphery, with each pocket or group of pockets associated with specific tooling for a particular process stage. This segmentation allows different tooling configurations at different angular positions around the turret, providing the versatility of multiple specialized stations while maintaining a single integrated rotating structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple turret functions into a single circular turret structure. Instead of using separate turrets for different process stages, all tooling stations are arranged around one rotating turret, with articles being presented to different tooling at different rotational positions. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining full multi-stage processing capability
3Reliability
If in-line conveyor systems are used to transport articles between tooling stages, then articles can move through the process sequence, but the transportation time between stages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circular turret enables continuous rotational motion that simultaneously performs transport and positioning functions. As the turret rotates, articles are continuously presented to different tooling stations without interruption, eliminating the start-stop motion and waiting periods inherent in linear conveyor systems. The continuous rotation ensures that while one article is being processed at a given station, other articles are being transported to and from other stations
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for handling articles (4) through a multi-stage process, the apparatus comprising at least one rotatable process turret (2) having a number of pockets (3), wherein each pocket (3) is adapted to support an article (4). The pockets (3) are arranged in groups and each group of pockets (3A, 3B, 3C) has associated tooling (5A, 5B, 5C), which carries out one stage of the process. The articles (4) are initially fed into one group of pockets (3A) only. A re-phase means (6) is provided to transfer the article (4) from one group of pockets (3A, 3B) to another (3B, 3C).