Multipart De-stacker Wheel Wedge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing de-stacker wheels struggle to reliably separate containers with minimal flanges and closely stacked containers at high production speeds, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A multipart de-stacker wheel design featuring a wheel member, stack carrying member, and wedge-shaped separation member, allowing for adjustable assembly and replacement of components to accommodate varying container sizes and flange positions, ensuring effective separation through a rotating mechanism with a wedge-shaped slit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional steel de-stacker wheels are used, then structural strength is maintained, but reliability of separation for containers with minimal flanges and closely stacked containers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The de-stacker wheel is divided into multiple replaceable members including a wheel member, stack carrying member, and separation member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and replaced based on wear or specific container requirements, thereby maintaining high separation reliability across different container types.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation member is designed with a wedge shape that can be adjusted and replaced. The wedge shape allows dynamic adaptation to different flange positions and container sizes, enabling reliable separation even for containers with minimal flanges and closely stacked configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed design de-stacker wheels are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different container sizes and flange positions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The de-stacker wheel comprises multiple replaceable members (wheel member, stack carrying member, separation member) that can be independently selected and replaced. This segmentation enables the system to adapt to different container sizes and flange positions without redesigning the entire device, managing complexity through modular standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The multipart design with standardized interfaces allows the same basic structure to serve multiple container types. The replaceable separation member with wedge shape can accommodate varying flange positions, making the device universally applicable across different container specifications.
3Ease of repair
If non-replaceable de-stacker wheel components are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but maintenance costs and production downtime increase
Solution Approach 1:
The de-stacker wheel is segmented into replaceable members including the separation member, stack carrying member, and wheel member. This allows individual components to be replaced based on wear patterns without replacing the entire assembly, significantly reducing maintenance costs and production downtime despite the increased initial device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables selective replacement of worn or damaged members while retaining functional components. The wedge-shaped separation member and other parts can be recovered and reused, reducing waste and maintenance costs over the device lifecycle.
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 design ensures high reliability and efficiency in de-stacking containers, reducing maintenance costs and improving production speed while minimizing container damage, with the ability to adapt to different denester systems and container sizes.
Implementation Method 1
a separation member having wedge shape, where a height of a first end of said separation member is smaller than a height of a second end of said separation member
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a de-stacker wheel for use in a denester as well as a dispenser for dispensing containers using such a de-stacker wheel and furthermore a method of dispensing a container from a stack of identical containers by use of such a de-stacker wheel. The invention provides a multipart de-stacker wheel for a denester, where a stack of containers, each container having a flange along its perimeter is to be de-stacked one by one which de-stacker wheel is particular in that by rotating or partly rotating said de-stacker wheel about an axis parallel to said stack of containers, where said de-stacker wheel comprises: - a wheel member having a first circular cylinder shape provided with a central cavity extending axially through the wheel member, where the central cavity is suitable to accommodate a rotating axel, where the wheel member has a top side, - at least one stack carrying member having a carrying surface, where the stack carrying member is arranged on the wheel member covering a first part of the top side and extends away from the wheel member substantially perpendicular to an rotating axis of said wheel member, - a separation member having wedge shape, where a height of a first end of said separation member is smaller than a height of a second end of said separation member, where the separation member is attached to the top side on the wheel member covering a second part of the top side and where the separation member or part of the separation member extends away from the wheel member substantially perpendicular to the axis of said wheel member, where the second end of said separation member is adjacent to a first end of said stack carrying member, where the first end of said separation member is displaced relative to a second end of said stack carrying member, away from the top side of said stack carrying member, providing a slit between the first end of said separation member and the second end of said stack carrying member, so when said multipart de-stacker wheel rotates about the axis of said wheel member, parallel to a stack of containers, where each container has a flange along its perimeter, the containers are de-stacked one by one, when the separation member comes in contact with the flange of said container, and by means of the wedge shaped separation member forces said container away from the stack of containers.