Row-Grip Depalletizing Machine for Low-Thrust Bottle Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing depalletizing machines for pallets of tins, cans, and glass bottles are bulky, inefficient, and prone to damaging products due to high horizontal thrust, making them unsuitable for small bottling or canning lines and ineffective for glass bottles.
Innovation Solution
A compact depalletizing machine with an elevating platform, movable products-transferring platform, and a transversal gripping head with vacuum means to handle individual rows of bottles, using a pusher blade to transfer rows onto an outlet conveyor, minimizing horizontal thrust and reducing product damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a pusher blade is used to move the entire layer of bottles at the same time, then the layer can be transferred onto the loose-products storage shelf, but the electric motors would have excessive weight, size and power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the layer transfer operation into two distinct phases: first, vacuum gripping means lift and hold individual rows of bottles; second, a pusher blade transfers these held rows onto the loose-products storage shelf. This segmentation allows the pusher blade to move only small groups of bottles rather than the entire layer, dramatically reducing the force and motor power required.
2Productivity
If the loose-products storage shelf is arranged at a high position, then the layer can be received, but the outlet conveyor structure becomes particularly complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical outlet conveyor system with a vacuum-based transfer mechanism. The vacuum gripping means, controlled by a programmable logic controller, lift and transport rows of bottles directly from the pallet to the loose-products storage shelf, eliminating the need for complex mechanical conveyor structures.
3Productivity
If a transversal pusher blade is used to push the upper layer of the pallet, then the layer can be transferred horizontally onto the loose-products storage shelf, but the machine dimensions become very bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transfer operation so that the pusher blade only needs to move small groups of bottles that are already held by the vacuum gripping means, rather than pushing the entire layer at once. This reduces the required pusher blade size and overall machine footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum gripping means act as an intermediary between the pallet and the loose-products storage shelf. They hold the rows of bottles and present them to the pusher blade, which then transfers them to the storage shelf. This intermediary role reduces the mechanical requirements of both the gripping means and the pusher blade.
4Productivity
If the pusher blade exerts high horizontal thrust to move the layer of bottles, then the transfer can be completed, but the bottles may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the layer into small groups held by vacuum gripping means, the pusher blade only needs to exert minimal force on these small groups rather than the entire layer. This reduces horizontal thrust to levels that cannot damage the bottles while maintaining transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional high-force mechanical push system with a vacuum-based holding system combined with gentle pushing. The vacuum gripping means hold the bottles securely, allowing transfer with minimal horizontal force, thereby eliminating the damage risk associated with high thrust.
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
The machine is more compact, efficient, and reduces product damage, enabling its use in smaller lines and handling glass bottles without excessive force, thus lowering operational costs and improving productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a transversal gripping head (4), provided with vacuum gripping means (5), capable of seizing and holding bottles (101)
Data Source
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AI summary
A depalletizing machine (1) comprising: an elevating platform (2) which is adapted to receive, resting thereon, the pallet to be unpacked (100) and is adapted to move vertically so as to lift the pallet to be unpacked (100) from the ground and align the upper layer of the pallet with a raised reference plane (P); a movable products-transferring platform (3) which is dimensioned to receive/ accommodate a row of products (101) coming from the pallet (100) stationary on the elevating platform (2), and is vertically movable alongside the elevating platform (2) between a loading position in which the products-transferring platform (3) is aligned with said reference plane (P) and is capable of loading/receiving a row of products (101), and an unloading position in which the movable products-transferring platform (3) is located spaced beneath said reference plane (P) and is capable of unloading the row of products (101) previously loaded; and a gripping head (4) that lies on said reference plane (P), is provided with gripping means (5) adapted to seize and firmly hold the products (101) of a row of products, and is movable forwards and backwards on said reference plane (P) between a first operating position in which the gripping head (4) is located beside the elevating platform (2), substantially vertically aligned with the products-transferring platform (3), and a second operating position in which the gripping head (4) is vertically aligned with the elevating platform (2), and is arranged adjacent to the products (101) forming a lateral row of the upper layer of the pallet, so that the gripping means (5) can seize and hold the products (101) of said lateral row.