Package Edge Detection Carriage for Strapping Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strapping apparatuses face issues with accurately positioning edge-protection means on packages with irregular or wide edges, leading to erroneous detections and potential damage.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus employs a carriage-mounted first and second detection device, allowing for direct detection of the package edge as the carriage moves, eliminating the need to extrapolate edge position from side face measurements, and ensuring reliable placement of edge-protection means even on packages that protrude laterally or are excessively wide.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single detection device is used to detect package edges, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of edge detection deteriorates for packages with irregular or wide edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge detection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system is segmented into multiple detection devices (first detection device and second detection device) positioned at different locations on the carriage. Each device handles specific detection scenarios, with the first device detecting normal package edges and the second device detecting edges of wide packages that protrude laterally. This segmentation improves detection reliability without requiring a single complex detection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The detection approach transitions from a single-point detection to multi-position detection along the carriage path. By placing detection devices at different positions (front and rear of carriage), the system detects edges in multiple spatial dimensions, ensuring reliable detection regardless of package width variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If the detection device is positioned to detect the package side face, then the measurement range is extended, but the manufacturing precision of edge position determination deteriorates due to extrapolation errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge position precisionVSAvoiddetection operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the detection function from the stationary support structure and integrates it directly onto the movable carriage. This allows the detection device to be positioned exactly where the edge-protection means will be applied, eliminating the need to extrapolate edge position from side face measurements and achieving direct, precise edge detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical extrapolation method (measuring side face distance and calculating edge position) with a direct optical/electronic detection method. The detection device directly senses the package edge position, substituting complex mechanical measurements and calculations with a simpler, more accurate sensing approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If the carriage moves forward to position the edge-protection means, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the loss of time increases due to additional movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge-protection positioning accuracyVSAvoidarranging time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The detection device identifies the package edge position in advance during the carriage's approach movement. Once the edge is detected, the carriage immediately moves to the arranging position without unnecessary delays. This preliminary detection action enables optimized positioning that minimizes travel time while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The detection device provides real-time feedback on package edge position to the control system. Based on this feedback, the carriage dynamically adjusts its movement to reach the optimal arranging position, ensuring precise placement while minimizing unnecessary travel time through intelligent control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3947164B1Apparatus and method for strapping packages
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 SIGNODE IND GROUP LLC
  • EP3947164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3947164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3947164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for arranging an edge-protection means (20) on a package (12). For this purpose, an arranging device (30) is moved from a starting position in the direction of the package. The package edge is sensed by means of a first or a second sensor (34, 37). Which sensor is to be used is determined by a controller. To this end, the latter checks whether one of the sensors (34, 37) is arranged above the package top side. Also disclosed is an arranging device (30), which is used in the above mentioned method.