Pivoting Gripper for Rod-Shaped Product Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic loading and unloading methods for rod-shaped products into containers often result in damage due to pressure sensitivity, positioning inaccuracies, and issues with flexible liners, leading to inefficiencies and complications, including slow cycles that hinder further processing.
Innovation Solution
A method using a transport device with a gripper that pivots the product into and out of containers, reducing the space required for movement and minimizing collisions with container walls or liners, by employing a pivoting movement that shortens the product's projection and allows for efficient vertical lift, thereby reducing damage and cycle time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a transport device with gripper is used to load and unload rod-shaped products, then productivity is improved, but product damage occurs due to pressure sensitivity and positioning inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pivoting movement to change the orientation of the rod-shaped product from a horizontal insertion angle to a more vertical position during transport. This dimensional change in movement trajectory reduces the projection of the product length, allowing the gripper to maneuver with less risk of collision with container walls or liners, thereby reducing product damage while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper performs preliminary positioning adjustments by pivoting the product before final insertion into the container. This preliminary action of reorienting the product reduces positioning inaccuracies and prevents damage to pressure-sensitive products during the loading process
2Device complexity
If products are inserted directly into containers without pivoting, then the process is simple, but collisions with container walls or flexible liners cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper executes a pivoting movement that changes the angular orientation of the product during insertion. This adds a rotational dimension to the otherwise linear insertion motion, allowing the product to be positioned at an angle that reduces its projection length and minimizes collision risk with container walls or flexible liners
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the product orientation during the insertion process through pivoting, rather than maintaining a fixed insertion angle. This dynamic repositioning allows the gripper to adapt to container geometry and avoid collisions with walls or liners while maintaining operational simplicity
3Device complexity
If the gripper holds the product horizontally during insertion, then the gripper structure is simple, but the projection length is large causing collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper pivots the product to change its angular orientation relative to the container opening. This rotational movement in a different dimension reduces the horizontal projection of the product length, allowing the gripper to insert products with simpler structure while minimizing collision risk
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3a~3h
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AI summary
The method involves guiding a bar like product (500) i.e. stack of cups, into a container (600) in a transport position and conveying the product into a desired storage position during filing by pivoting movement when loading of the container. The product is gripped in the container. The product is guided from the storage position to a transport position using the pivoting moment during unloading of the container. The product is upwardly withdrawn from the container during unloading of the container. An independent claim is also included for a device for performing a method for loading and unloading a flexible material container.