Pallet Loading Platform with Movable Transfer Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for loading products on pallets are complex, costly, and risk contamination in hygienic environments, especially in food production, and can damage fragile products during handling.
Innovation Solution
A device with a movable platform and robotic arms that gently transfers products from a supply system to a traditional pallet using a roller conveyor, ensuring minimal height difference and lateral containment to maintain product integrity and prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex lifting and rotating devices are used to transfer products between pallets, then pallet replacement is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the product group from the first pallet and places it directly onto the second pallet using a simple platform transfer mechanism, eliminating the need for complex manipulators and rotating devices. The product group is treated as a single unit that is moved directly between pallets without intermediate handling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple platform serves as an intermediary element between the two pallets, enabling direct transfer of the product group. This platform is much simpler than the manipulator-based systems in prior art, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to replace pallets.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lifting and rotating operations are performed on product groups, then pallet replacement is achieved, but product damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The product group is extracted as a complete unit from the first pallet and transferred directly to the second pallet without being subjected to lifting, rotating, or other manipulative operations that could cause damage. This direct transfer approach eliminates the mechanical stress and handling risks associated with traditional manipulator-based systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer platform is positioned at the same height level as both pallets, creating an equipotential transfer surface. This eliminates the need for lifting and lowering operations, reducing gravitational stress on the products while enabling pallet replacement.
3Productivity
If traditional pallets are used in hygienic areas, then indiscriminate transport is enabled, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The product group is extracted from the first pallet within the hygienic area and transferred to a second pallet outside the hygienic area. This spatial separation allows traditional pallets to be used in non-hygienic areas for efficient transport, while the hygienic area remains protected from contamination by external pallets.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer platform serves as an intermediary boundary between the hygienic and non-hygienic areas. By positioning this platform at the boundary, products can be transferred from clean pallets inside the hygienic area to traditional pallets outside, enabling efficient transport without compromising hygiene standards.
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 efficient, cost-effective, and contamination-free loading of products onto traditional pallets outside hygienic areas, minimizing product damage and maintaining their configuration, thus addressing the limitations of existing solutions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one roller conveyor, with rollers defining a first support surface of the group of products
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1) for loading a group of products on a pallet, comprising supply means (4) of a group (2) of products (3), at least one support (6) for a pallet (5) on which the group (2) of products (3) is intended to be deposited, deposit means (7) of the group (2) of products (3) from the supply means (4) on the pallet (5), and at least one output unit (8) of the pallet (5) bearing the group (2) of products (3). The deposit means (7) comprise at least one platform (10), suitable to support the group (2) of products (3), movable between a first position (P1), in which it is not overlapping said support (6), and a second position (P2), in which it is at least partially overlapping the support (6) bearing the pallet (5); the platform (10) is configured in such a way as to unload the group (2) of products (3) on the pallet (5) by fall following the translation from the second position (P2) to the first position (PI).