Rod Feeding Device for Long Sausage Packages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rod feed devices are not suitable for very long sausage-shaped packaging units or chains of sausages, as they struggle with vertical movement and horizontal separation, making it difficult to load and manage these units efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A stick feed device with a driven lifting mechanism for vertical movement and a driven horizontal transport mechanism that allows sticks to be lifted and moved into a comfortable loading position, featuring L-shaped receptacles for easy loading and U-shaped brackets for horizontal movement, enabling efficient handling of long packaging units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If sticks are lifted to a great height for loading with very long packaging units, then the packaging units can be properly loaded, but the operator working height becomes uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the stick handling process into two independent stages: vertical lifting by the lifting means and horizontal transport by the transport means. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling sticks to reach high loading positions while the operator remains at a comfortable working height for loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from purely vertical stick handling to a two-dimensional approach by introducing horizontal transport. The transport means carries sticks horizontally from the lifting position to the loading position, allowing the lifting height to be increased without compromising operator comfort, as the actual loading occurs at a lower horizontal level.
2Device complexity
If a simple vertical lifting mechanism is used, then the device structure remains simple, but horizontal separation and positioning of sticks becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates vertical lifting and horizontal positioning functions into distinct components. The lifting means (conveyor chains with receptacles) handles vertical movement with simple, proven technology, while the transport means (U-shaped brackets on movable carriers) independently handles horizontal transport and positioning, making each function easier to implement and operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport means acts as an intermediary between the vertical lifting mechanism and the loading position. The U-shaped brackets on movable carriers serve as intermediate carriers that receive sticks from the lifting means and transport them horizontally to the loading position, enabling smooth transition and positioning without complex integration.
3Length of moving object
If sticks are loaded at high position directly, then loading with very long packaging units is possible, but the loading process becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting means performs preliminary vertical movement of sticks to the correct height position before the actual loading operation. This preliminary positioning ensures that when sticks are transferred to the transport means and brought to the loading position, they are already at the correct elevation, streamlining the loading process for very long packaging units and improving overall efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a smoking stick feeding unit (10) which comprises lifting means (12) that allow a plurality of smoking sticks (15) to be lifted simultaneously. In the top position of lift, the top smoking stick is transferred to a transport means for a horizontal movement into the loading position. The smoking stick feeding unit can be used to feed smoking sticks for loading with very long packaging units or sausages in a suspension device.