Sausage Storage Plant Pick-and-Place Device Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sausage storage plants face low productivity, complex and costly pick-and-place devices, and large vertical store dimensions due to the need for two operating cycles and transfer of second cross members between the loading station and vertical store.
Innovation Solution
A plant design with a chain conveyor and anthropomorphic robot using a pick-and-place device that transfers sausages directly onto fixed cross members in the vertical store, eliminating the need for moving cross members and reducing the number of operating cycles, thus simplifying and economizing the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pick-and-place device transfers second cross members between the loading station and vertical store, then sausages can be stored in the vertical store, but the productivity is relatively low and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the second cross members from the transfer process, making them stationary in the vertical store instead of being moved back and forth. Only sausages are transferred by the pick-and-place device, eliminating the complexity of handling and repositioning cross members while maintaining storage functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving cross members to and from the loading station, the patent inverts the approach by keeping cross members fixed in the vertical store and only transferring sausages. This reversal eliminates unnecessary movements and reduces device complexity.
2Productivity
If the pick-and-place device performs two operating cycles to fill each second cross member, then sausages can be properly arranged, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The second cross members are pre-positioned and fixed in the vertical store before the sausage filling process begins. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for repositioning cross members during operation, allowing continuous sausage transfer in a single operating cycle and reducing time loss.
3Volume of stationary object
If the vertical store is designed to accommodate transferred second cross members, then storage capacity is achieved, but the vertical store dimensions become relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the second cross members from the movable components of the system, fixing them permanently in the vertical store. This extraction eliminates the need for additional space required for cross member storage and repositioning mechanisms, reducing the overall vertical store dimensions while maintaining productivity.
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
Enhances productivity, reduces device complexity and cost, and minimizes vertical store dimensions by allowing direct transfer of sausages onto fixed cross members, making the storage process efficient and economical.
Implementation Method 1
a chain conveyor (12), which extends through a sausage processing station and is provided with a plurality of second hooking members (14) designed to receive and hold a corresponding sausage each
Implementation Method 2
an anthropomorphic robot provided with a pick-and-place device, which is moved by the anthropomorphic robot between a first operating position, wherein the pick-and-place device retrieves the sausages from the loading station, and a second operating position, wherein the pick-and-place device releases the sausages into the vertical store
Implementation Method 3
designed to receive and hold a corresponding sausage each
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and a plant for the storage of sausages (2), according to which two rows of sausages (2) are simultaneously transferred from a loading station (13) to a support cross member (9) of a vertical store (3) by means of a pick-and-place device (20) provided with two support arms (22), which are parallel to one another, have an elongated shape, are provided with respective pluralities of holding members (24) and are movable relative to one another between a closed position and an open position; the sum of the holding members (24) of the two support arms (22) being equal to the number of hooking members (11) of the support cross member (9) of the store (3).