Oscillating Gripper Unfolding Packaging Casings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming packaging bodies open on one side from casings open on both sides often experience operational disruptions due to inconsistent unfolding, leading to unreliable production of filled packs.

Innovation Solution

A method and device where flat-folded packaging casings are gripped and moved along a transport path with grooves, using a gripper to partially unfold the casings by bending or kinking them against resistance, ensuring consistent unfolding and reliable processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If packaging casings are unfolded using conventional methods, then production speed is maintained, but operational disruptions occur due to inconsistent unfolding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunfolding consistencyVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gripper mechanism is designed to oscillate dynamically during the unfolding process, transitioning from a static gripping position to an oscillating motion that actively bends and unfolds the packaging casing. This dynamic movement ensures consistent unfolding while maintaining production speed, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The oscillating gripper performs periodic back-and-forth movements to unfold the packaging casing in a controlled sequence. This periodic action ensures that each casing is unfolded consistently through repeated cyclic motions, improving reliability without significantly reducing overall production speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If packaging casings are fully unfolded, then processing reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing reliabilityVSAvoidgripper mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oscillating gripper performs partial unfolding actions rather than complete unfolding in a single step. By executing multiple partial unfolding movements through oscillation, the system achieves reliable processing while keeping the gripper mechanism relatively simple, avoiding the need for complex multi-stage unfolding devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Manufacturing precision

If packaging casings are moved along a transport path with grooves, then unfolding consistency improves, but friction increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunfolding consistencyVSAvoidfriction force
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The oscillating gripper introduces vibrational motion to the packaging casing during the unfolding process. This vibration helps reduce friction between the casing and the grooves in the transport path, allowing the casing to move more smoothly while maintaining unfolding consistency through the oscillating motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3649052B1Method and device for constructing packaging bodies which are open on one side using an oscillating gripper
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 SIG TECH AG
  • EP3649052B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3649052B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3649052B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for at least partly folding up packaging casings (3, 63), preferably according to one of the claims 1 to 9, comprising a cartridge (22) with a stack (81) of packaging casings (3, 63). The packaging casings (3, 63) of the stack (81) are folded flat about at least two folding edges (65) running in the longitudinal direction of the packaging casings (3, 63), and a gripper is provided for gripping a packaging casing (3, 63) face facing away from the stack and moving the folding edges (6, 65) of the packaging casings (3, 63), in particular pulling the folding edges, along a withdrawal transport path (TB) into grooves (97) of at least one receiving area of a shaping station (84), and the grooves (97) are spaced such that the folding edges (6, 65) of the packaging casings (3, 63) are spaced apart farther in the cartridge (22) than in the grooves (97). The aim of the invention is to further prevent operational malfunctions and allow a more reliable production of packaging bodies which are open on one side from packaging casings which are open on both sides largely without malfunctions. This is achieved in that a drive (115) is paired with the gripper (93) and/or the grooves (97) for moving the packaging casing (3, 63) section gripped by the gripper (93) first along the withdrawal transport path (TB) over a groove plane (NE) which connects the grooves (97), then back over the groove plane (NE) opposite the withdrawal transport path (TB), and then again over the groove plane (NE) along the withdrawal transport path (TB).