Profiled-Bar Carousel Guard for Accessible Labeling Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing labeling machines have complex protection structures that are difficult to manufacture, use, and ensure safety, as they require intricate movements between open and closed conditions, and do not provide complete accessibility to the carousel.
Innovation Solution
A labeling machine with a protection structure featuring a profiled bar with longitudinal slots for easy attachment of closure panels and grip handles, allowing the protection structure to be moved between active and inactive conditions using a single profiled bar, simplifying the design and enhancing user accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection structures (doors or panels) are used to prevent access to the carousel, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to intricate movement mechanisms required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential protective function from the complex door/panel systems and implements it through a simplified barrier that blocks access to the carousel without requiring intricate movement mechanisms. The protection structure is designed to be moved between open and closed conditions through a straightforward mechanism rather than complex articulated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using traditional doors hinged to the base structure or sliding panels that require complex mechanisms, the invention inverts the approach by using a barrier that can be positioned to block access. The protection structure is designed to be moved between open and closed conditions through a simplified mechanism, essentially doing the opposite of the conventional approach.
2Ease of operation
If traditional hinged doors or sliding panels are used for protection structures, then access control is achieved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex construction
Solution Approach 1:
The protection structure is divided into a barrier portion and a support structure portion, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly. This segmentation simplifies production by enabling each component to be manufactured separately using simpler processes, then assembled together without requiring complex integrated construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is designed with a profiled bar that can accommodate different barrier configurations and movement mechanisms. This universal design allows the same basic structure to serve multiple protective configurations, simplifying manufacturing by using standardized components rather than custom-built complex assemblies.
3Reliability
If multiple individual protection structures are used around the carousel, then comprehensive protection is achieved, but ease of operation worsens due to requiring movement of multiple structures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines multiple protection functions into a single integrated barrier structure that can be moved as one unit. Rather than requiring operators to manually move multiple separate doors or panels around the carousel, the merged structure provides comprehensive protection coverage while being operable through a single movement action.
Data Source
AI summary
A labeling machine includes a base structure which rotatably supports a conveyance carousel for the containers to be labeled and at least one protection structure which can move, with respect to the base structure, from an active condition, in which it prevents access from the outside to at least one portion of the conveyance carousel, to an inactive condition, in which it allows access from the outside to the at least one portion of the conveyance carousel, and vice versa; the protection structure includes a supporting framework for components of the protection structure, which includes a profiled bar having an arc-like extension around the axis of the conveyance carousel, which is arranged above the base structure and forms at least one engagement seat for elements for fixing to the supporting framework at least one of the components.