Rod Transfer Device with Buffer for Continuous Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing production lines for sausage-shaped products face inefficiencies due to interruptions when handling rod-like elements, such as smoking rods, leading to discontinuous operation and the need to stop robotic devices during process interruptions or frame changes.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with a buffering region and gripping units is introduced, allowing for temporary storage of rod-like elements between transfer points, enabling flexible handling and continuous operation by controlling the gripping units to manage the buffering positions and ensure seamless transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robotic device is used to remove smoking rods from the hanging line and insert them into storage frames, then automation and productivity are improved, but the system must stop during frame changes and interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering region pre-stores multiple smoking rods before they are needed by the robotic device. This preliminary accumulation allows the robotic device to continuously operate without waiting for new rods to be produced or storage frames to be changed, as backup rods are already available in the buffer zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering region acts as an intermediary between the hanging line and the robotic device/storage frames. It decouples the production rate from the consumption rate, allowing the robotic device to operate continuously at its own pace while the hanging line operates independently, thus eliminating the need to stop during frame changes.
2Productivity
If the hanging line operates continuously to maintain productivity, then production efficiency is improved, but interruptions occur during refilling casing material or suspension loops
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering region pre-accumulates smoking rods during periods when the hanging line is operational. This preliminary storage creates a reserve that allows the hanging line to interrupt its operation for refilling without affecting the continuous discharge capability, as the buffer supplies rods during interruption periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering region provides a cushion of stored smoking rods that protects the continuous discharge operation from interruptions in the hanging line. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even when the hanging line stops for refilling casing material or suspension loops, the robotic device can continue operating without interruption.
3Productivity
If storage frames are emptied and refilled, then continuous operation is maintained, but the robotic device must stop during frame replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering region pre-stores multiple smoking rods that can be supplied to the robotic device during frame changes. This preliminary accumulation allows the robotic device to continue operating without stopping, as it can draw from the buffer while a new storage frame is being positioned and prepared.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffering region serves as an intermediary supply source between the hanging line and the storage frames. During frame replacement operations, the buffer acts as a temporary storage that maintains the supply chain, allowing the robotic device to operate continuously without waiting for frame changes to complete.
4Productivity
If multiple buffering positions are provided for rod-like elements, then flexibility and continuous operation are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering region is segmented into multiple discrete buffering positions along the guidance structure. This segmentation allows for simple, modular implementation where each position can independently hold a smoking rod, providing flexibility and continuous operation capability without requiring complex interconnected mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adding complexity in the time dimension (synchronization mechanisms), the solution adds buffering capacity in the spatial dimension by providing multiple positions along the guidance. This dimensional approach allows continuous operation to be achieved through simple spatial arrangement rather than complex temporal coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transfer device and method for transferring rod-like elements for storing sausage-shaped products in a transfer direction from a first transfer point to a second transfer point, is disclosed. The system comprises a first guidance and a second guidance spaced apart and extending at least substantially parallel to each other, each having a first end and a second end, wherein, in the area of the first end of the guidances the first transfer point is defined and in the area of the second end of the guidances the second transfer point (78) is defined, wherein a buffering region is provided between the first transfer point and the second transfer point of the guidances for temporarily buffering at least one rod-like element after being removed from the first transfer point.