Automated Loading Device for Sacks with Pivoting Acceleration Conveyor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for loading transport vehicles, such as trucks, with sacks or bulk goods are inefficient due to high physical strain on operators, inaccurate positioning, and suboptimal space utilization, often requiring manual intervention and complex design efforts.

Innovation Solution

A flexible loading method and device that uses a feed device and an acceleration conveyor, controlled by a controller, to automatically position and align sacks on the loading area, compensating for longitudinal offsets through pivoting and movement, allowing for fully automatic and precise loading without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual loading methods are used with feed belts, then the system is inexpensive to purchase, but operator physical strain is high due to repeated lifting and positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurchase costVSAvoidoperator physical strain

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The loading device enables self-service operation by automatically positioning bags on the loading area using a movable platform that responds to commands from the loading area, eliminating the need for operators to manually lift and position heavy bags

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated system where a movable platform carries bags and automatically positions them on the loading area through controlled movement, substituting operator physical effort with automated mechanical positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If automated loading devices with lateral and vertical conveyor pivoting are used, then larger areas can be loaded, but bag positioning accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading area coverageVSAvoidbag positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The loading device employs a movable platform that can dynamically adjust its position both laterally and vertically to adapt to different loading areas, while maintaining positioning accuracy through coordinated movement control that compensates for geometric offsets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a controller that receives commands from the loading area and automatically adjusts the platform position, implementing feedback control to maintain accurate bag placement despite lateral and vertical movements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Volume of stationary object

If storage saddles with transverse sack positioning are used, then space utilization improves, but processing speed decreases due to waiting cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable platform continuously transports bags along its path without interruption, eliminating the waiting cycles inherent in saddle-based systems where the feed conveyor must pause for saddle delivery and retrieval operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Adaptability or versatility

If telescopic conveyor devices with lateral and longitudinal movement are used, then loading flexibility improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading flexibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable platform performs multiple functions including lateral movement, vertical movement, and bag positioning within a single integrated device, eliminating the need for separate telescopic conveyor mechanisms while maintaining loading flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3218291B1Method for loading surfaces to be loaded, and loading device

Publication Date: 2020.07.22 HAVER & BOECKER OHG

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for loading surfaces (301) to be loaded on a transport means (300) which can be moved on a transport surface (201) with transport goods (2), such as sacks (3) or other piece goods, and to a loading device. Transport goods (2) are transported one after the other using a supply device (4) and transferred to an acceleration conveyor (5) arranged downstream for further transport. The transport goods are finally dispensed individually onto the loading surface (301) of the movable transport means (300) at a dispensing end (7) of a dispensing device (6). In order to automatically deposit a row (21) of transport goods (2) in an adjacent manner on the loading surface (301) of the movable transport means (300), the acceleration conveyor (5) is laterally pivoted relative to a base position (22) in a longitudinal direction (8), and the dispensing end (7) of the dispensing device (6) is moved in a corresponding manner in the longitudinal direction (8) in order to allow an automatic length compensation for a length offset (9) caused by the pivot movement of the acceleration conveyor (5) and to allow the transport goods to be loaded on the loading surface (301) in a tightly packed manner.