Package Conveying Pockets With Movable Guides for Rotation Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveying apparatuses for folding apparatuses in packaging machines for pourable products are in need of improvement to enhance efficiency and guidance during the advancement of finalized packages.
Innovation Solution
A conveying apparatus with a folding unit and a manipulation assembly that includes retaining pockets and a conveying device, which guides and manipulates semi-finalized packs into finalized packages by folding sealing fins and flaps onto the central main body, using a control device to manage the position of delimiting elements for stable package advancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a conventional conveyor belt is used to advance finalized packages, then the packages can be transported, but the guidance and stability during advancement are insufficient, allowing rotations to occur
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor belt is segmented into multiple independent conveyor elements (such as individual fingers or segments) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each element to independently guide and stabilize packages, preventing rotations while maintaining overall system simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying apparatus introduces additional dimensional control through vertically adjustable conveyor elements or multi-plane conveyor structures. This allows the system to provide guidance not only in the horizontal transport direction but also in vertical and rotational dimensions, stabilizing packages without requiring a completely complex apparatus.
2Ease of manufacture
If the conveying apparatus structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing becomes easier, but the guidance capability during package advancement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor elements are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as simple support structures (easy to manufacture) and as precise positioning guides (high manufacturing precision). Each conveyor element can simultaneously provide mechanical support, lateral guidance, and rotational constraint, achieving both ease of manufacture and positioning precision through universal design.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying apparatus uses adjustable parameters such as conveyor element spacing, height, and angle to optimize both manufacturability and positioning precision. By allowing parameter adjustment rather than requiring complex fixed structures, the system achieves high precision package guidance while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized components.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a conveying apparatus (26) for advancing packages (2) comprising a plurality of retaining spaces (40) for housing the packages (2), each retaining space (40) being delimited by a respective first delimiting element (44) and a respective second delimiting element (45) and a conveying device (41) comprising a support base (46) carrying the first delimiting elements (44) and the second delimiting elements (45) and being configured to advance the first delimiting elements (44) and the second delimiting elements (45) and thereby also the retaining spaces (40) along an advancement path (S) and through a feeding station (42) at which a package (2) is fed into a respective retaining space (40) and a discharge station (43) at which the package (2) is discharged from the respective retaining space (40). The first delimiting elements (44) and the second delimiting elements (45) are movably connected to the support base (46). The conveying apparatus (26) comprises a control device (48) configured to control a relative movement of each first delimiting element (44) and the respective second delimiting element (45) during advancement of each first delimiting element (44) and the respective second delimiting element (45) along the advancement path (S).