Pivotable Suction Tool for Inclined Cardboard Blank Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in reliably gripping and processing stacked cardboard blanks that are inclined relative to the horizontal plane, leading to issues such as incomplete removal and position shifts, which can result in production stops and rejects.
Innovation Solution
A packaging device with a removal device that includes a pivotable suction tool capable of vertical and horizontal movement, allowing for compensating movements to align the cardboard blank in a horizontal plane, ensuring secure grip and transfer to further processing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cardboard boxes are arranged in a magazine and removed using a fixed gripping device, then the system structure is simple, but the cardboard blanks cannot be reliably gripped when inclined, leading to incomplete removal and position shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The suction tool is made pivotable about a vertical axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation to match the inclination angle of the cardboard blank. This dynamic adaptation enables reliable gripping of inclined blanks without requiring complex adjustable magazine structures, resolving the contradiction between gripping reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the suction tool's angular orientation to adapt to the inclination of the cardboard blank. By varying the suction tool's angle relative to the horizontal plane, the system maintains effective gripping contact despite the blank's inclination, improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If the suction tool is made pivotable to align with inclined cardboard blanks, then gripping reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction tool incorporates a pivot mechanism that allows it to rotate about a vertical axis, enabling it to dynamically align with the inclination angle of the cardboard blank. This single-degree-of-freedom pivot adds minimal complexity while significantly improving removal completeness by ensuring the suction cups maintain proper contact orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable suction tool serves multiple functions: it grips the cardboard blank, adapts to various inclination angles, and maintains proper suction orientation. This multi-functionality is achieved through a relatively simple pivot mechanism, preventing excessive complexity while improving removal reliability across different blank orientations.
3Productivity
If fixed vacuum suction devices are used to remove cardboard blanks, then the device structure is simple, but position shifts occur during removal, causing production stops and rejects
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable suction tool dynamically adjusts its angular position to match the cardboard blank's inclination, ensuring that the suction force is applied perpendicular to the blank surface. This prevents sliding and position shifts during removal, maintaining positioning accuracy and avoiding production interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the inclination angle of the cardboard blank and provide feedback to the control system. The control system then adjusts the suction tool's pivot angle accordingly, creating a closed-loop control that maintains precise positioning and prevents shifts during the removal process.
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
The solution enables reliable gripping and transfer of inclined cardboard blanks, preventing losses and position shifts, ensuring precise positioning and efficient processing.
Implementation Method 1
A packaging device with a removal device that includes a pivotable suction tool capable of vertical and horizontal movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3E
Figure 4A~4D
AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging device (1), in particular for grouping a plurality of articles (8) by means of an outer packaging (6) formed from a cardboard blank (3). The packaging device (1) comprises a magazine (2) for cardboard blanks (3), wherein the cardboard blanks (3) are arranged lying on top of each other in the magazine (2); furthermore, a removal device (4) for the cardboard blanks (3) and a handling device (5) for further processing the cardboard blanks (3). The removal device (4) is designed to be vertically and horizontally movable and comprises at least one suction tool (9) for receiving a cardboard blank (3) from the magazine (2).The invention provides that the suction tool (9) is arranged to pivot within or on the removal device (4) in at least one further axis in a horizontal plane for performing a compensatory movement and aligning the captured cardboard blank (3). The invention further relates to a removal device (4) for cardboard blanks (3) and a method for removing cardboard blanks (3).