Automatic Package Extraction via Inclining and Suction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for automatically removing contents from bag-shaped packages often result in poor performance due to contents getting stuck, manual intervention, or hindrance from wrinkles in packaging sheet materials, leading to inefficient and unreliable automated extraction.

Innovation Solution

An automated method and device that holds the package with packaging sheet materials upright, cuts them between joining portions, increases the distance between the sheets using suction units, and inclines them to drop the contents reliably, with optional features like air jets or pushers to assist in dropping and transfer the contents to a predetermined posture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If nip rolls are used to draw out contents from the package, then automatic taking out is achieved, but contents get stuck in the gap between nip rolls and taking out reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic taking outVSAvoidtaking out reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the problematic nip rolls from the system and replaces them with an inclining mechanism. The package is inclined to allow gravity to naturally draw out the contents, eliminating the sticking issue caused by nip rolls while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical drawing action of nip rolls is replaced with a gravitational system using an inclining mechanism. The package is tilted to create a gravity-driven extraction process, substituting complex mechanical gripping with simpler gravitational force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If packaging sheet materials are cut and opened in three directions, then contents can be accessed, but manual intervention is required and total automation is impossible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontents accessibilityVSAvoidtotal automation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of cutting in three directions, the invention segments the opening process into two perpendicular cuts only. The package structure and inclining mechanism are designed to work with these two cuts to achieve automatic content extraction without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than opening the package completely flat and then extracting, the invention inverts the approach by maintaining the package in an inclined position throughout the process, allowing gravity to assist extraction directly from the inclined opened state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If packaging sheet material is cut and opened, then contents can be dropped, but wrinkles are generated and dropping is hindered causing poor taking out

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent droppingVSAvoidtaking out reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The package is pre-cut along two perpendicular lines before the inclining process. This preliminary segmentation allows the package to be opened and inclined without generating wrinkles during the extraction process, ensuring smooth content dropping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The package transitions from a static flat state to a dynamic inclined state. This dynamic positioning allows the package to open smoothly along the pre-cut lines without creating wrinkles, enabling reliable automatic extraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables reliable and automatic extraction of contents from packaging sheet materials, preventing sticking and wrinkles, and ensures stable and efficient removal without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

after the two packaging sheet materials inside (that is, the central side of the packaging sheet materials where the contents is present) the two cutting spots are respectively suctioned and held by the suction units

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

inclining the two packaging sheet materials inside the two cutting spots and the contents in a state where a positional deviation in an up-down direction, that is, a vertical direction, occurs with respect to the two cutting spots, and dropping and taking the contents out of the two packaging sheet materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10023343B2Automatic taking-out method and device for packaged contents

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

An automatic taking-out device is configured by providing a package holding unit that holds the package; a cutting unit that cuts the two packaging sheet materials of the package in a held state in two cutting spots that are respectively present between the joining portions and the contents and that face each other with the contents therebetween; a pair of suction units that respectively suction and hold the two packaging sheet materials inside the two cutting spots; a driving unit that moves at least one of the suction units in a direction separated from the contents; and an inclining unit that inclines the two packaging sheet materials inside the two cutting spots and the contents in a state where a positional deviation in an up-down direction occurs with respect to the two cutting spots, and drops the contents out of the two packaging sheet materials.