Sausage Handling System with 2D Grid Storage Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handling systems for sausage-shaped products are inefficient as they require filling multiple smoking rods one after the other for storage, leading to increased time and space utilization challenges.

Innovation Solution

A handling system with a storage unit that accommodates sausage-shaped products in two dimensions, allowing for simultaneous storage of multiple filled smoking rods in a single level, along with a delivery device and transportation device for efficient loading and unloading, and a control unit for synchronized operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple smoking rods are filled one after another for storage, then the storage rack can be filled with sausage-shaped products, but the time required for loading increases and space utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading speedVSAvoidtime for filling storage rack
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage unit is designed to arrange smoking rods in two dimensions (rows and columns) rather than the conventional single-dimensional linear arrangement. This allows multiple smoking rods to be positioned simultaneously in a grid pattern within a single storage level, dramatically increasing the number of rods that can be stored at once and reducing the time required to fill the storage rack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple smoking rods are filled one after another, then storage capacity is achieved, but space usage per level is optimized poorly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of smoking rods storedVSAvoidstorage level area utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By transitioning from a single-row linear arrangement to a two-dimensional grid arrangement with multiple rows and columns, the storage unit maximizes the use of available horizontal space on each storage level. This allows the quantity of smoking rods stored per level to increase significantly while maintaining efficient space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage unit divides the storage space into multiple segments organized in rows and columns, with each segment capable of holding a smoking rod. This segmented arrangement allows for systematic placement and optimization of space usage across the entire storage level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3072396B1Handling system and method for sausage-shaped products
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 POLY CLIP SYST
  • EP3072396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072396B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a handling system for handling sausage-shaped products (P), like sausages, each sausage-shaped product (P) having a sausage-shaped body (B). The handling system comprises a delivery device (100) for feeding sausage-shaped products (P) to a hand-over area (HE), a storage device (300) for temporarily storing at least one storage unit (400) configured for a reversible accommodation of sausage-shaped products (P), and a transportation device (200) configured for reversibly holding and maneuvering at least one storage unit (400) in the hand-over area (HE) for accommodating sausage-shaped products (P) on the storage unit (400) and for moving the storage unit (400) loaded with sausage-shaped products (P) to the storage device (300). The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a system for handling sausage-shaped products (P).