Rotating Helical Singularizer for Package Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for singularizing stacked packages are limited by their inability to operate at high speeds and ensure precise positioning, often causing shocks and damage to packages due to inefficient design.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a hopper with a closed-profile outlet and a rotatable singularizing member with helical surfaces, which guides packages into a receiving member with a non-coincident seat, ensuring smooth separation and transfer to downstream processing machinery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a drum is used as the singularizing member to separate packages, then the device can handle stacked packages, but the drum is unable to operate at high speeds and cannot guarantee precise positioning of packages
Solution Approach 1:
The singularizing member is divided into multiple sectors around its perimeter, with each sector capable of receiving and positioning a package. This segmentation allows the device to process multiple packages simultaneously at different angular positions, increasing throughput speed while maintaining precise positioning control for each individual package through independent sector design.
2Productivity
If a rotating drum is used to singularize packages, then packages can be separated, but the packages are subject to shocks and bounces which can cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a cushioning element that makes contact with packages before they are fully released from the singularizing member. This cushioning action occurs during the transfer process, preventing shocks and bounces that would otherwise occur during package separation and transfer, thereby protecting packages from damage while maintaining efficient singularization operation.
3Productivity
If the singularizing member operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but positioning precision of packages decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The singularizing member rotates in periodic cycles, with each rotation bringing different sectors into position to receive and release packages at controlled intervals. This periodic action allows the system to maintain high overall productivity through continuous rotation while ensuring that each individual package transfer occurs at a controlled, precise moment when the receiving sector is properly positioned.
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
Enables high-speed, precise, and damage-free singularization of packages by ensuring smooth descent and alignment, improving operational efficiency and reducing package damage.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable singularizing member with helical surfaces, which guides packages into a receiving member
Implementation Method 2
a hopper for containing a stack of packages... wherein the hopper comprises an outlet for letting the package at the bottom of the stack exit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
A device (10) is described for successively feeding stacked packages (101) to a machine for manipulating and/or treating and/or processing the packages, comprising: - a hopper (2) for containing a stack (100) of packages (101) according to such an arrangement so that the stack of packages (100) extends along a reference axis (I), wherein the hopper (2) comprises an outlet (2A) for letting the package (101I) arranged at the bottom of the stack (100) exit; - a singularizing member (6) for separating the package leaving the hopper with respect to the remaining packages of the stack; The device is characterized in that it comprises a member (4) for receiving a single package (101) leaving the hopper, which is provided with a seat (4A) for housing the package, the seat being located on a plane (P2) parallel to the plane (P1) of the outlet (2A) of the hopper, and arranged so it is not coincident with the outlet (2A) of the hopper, wherein the receiving member (4) defines a position for the package to be picked up and transferred to the machine. The singularizing member (6) is arranged between the outlet (2A) of the hopper and the receiving member (4), and is provided with an opening (6A; 6A') for the passage of a single package leaving the hopper (2). The singularizing member (6) is, furthermore, rotatable around a rotation axis (11) parallel to the reference axis (I), between a receiving position, wherein the opening (6A; 6A') is arranged to be coincident with the outlet (2A) of the hopper (2), for receiving the package leaving the hopper (2), and a releasing position, wherein the opening (6A; 6A') is arranged to be coincident with the seat (4A) of the receiving member (4), for releasing the package (101) that has left the hopper (2) into the seat (4A) of the receiving member (4).