Sealing Tool Tray Loading with Recess-Guided Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grippers cause packaging trays to shift during loading and unloading, leading to tipping, jamming, and contamination, resulting in lengthy downtimes in sealing tools.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a transport device with a tray support and backing plate forming a recess, where the packaging tray is raised and lowered to prevent shifting, and a proximity sensor detects insertion for enhanced reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional grippers are used to transport trays, then the trays can be moved from the feed conveyor into the sealing tool chamber, but the trays shift when the gripper is opened, causing them to tip over or become jammed
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is formed in advance by the support plate and tray carrier before the tray is inserted. This pre-formed recess provides immediate stabilization for the tray upon insertion, preventing shifting during subsequent gripper operation. The preliminary creation of the recess structure ensures that when the tray is placed, it is already constrained against tipping or jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess acts as an intermediary structure between the tray and the sealing tool chamber. It provides a transition zone that guides the tray into the correct position and maintains stability during the loading process. The recess mediates the interaction between the moving tray and the sealing tool, preventing direct contact that would cause tipping or jamming.
2Productivity
If the tray shifts during loading, then the sealing tool can be operated, but the tray tips over or jams, contaminating the tool and requiring lengthy downtimes for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed to counteract the harmful effects of tray shifting before they can occur. By providing pre-formed constraints in the correct position, the recess prevents the tray from tipping over or jamming in the first place, rather than reacting after contamination has occurred. This preliminary anti-action eliminates the need for cleaning downtimes.
3Speed
If the transport device lowers the packaging tray directly onto the support plate, then the tray can be positioned quickly, but the tray may shift during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is formed in advance by the support plate and tray carrier structure. This pre-formed recess provides immediate stabilization for the tray upon insertion, preventing shifting during the lowering process. The preliminary creation of the recess ensures that when the tray is lowered quickly, it is already constrained against tipping or jamming.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for loading a sealing tool (10) with packaging trays (8) comprises providing a sealing tool base (12) which includes a tray support (15) and a backing plate (16), wherein the backing plate (16) and the tray support (15) form a recess (17). The method further comprises delivering a packaging tray (8), receiving the packaging tray (8) by a transport device (11), lifting the transport device (11) and the packaging tray (8), and positioning the transport device (11) and the packaging tray (8) above the sealing tool base (12). The method further comprises lowering the transport device (11) and the packaging tray (8), wherein the packaging tray (8) is inserted into the recess (17) during lowering, and releasing the packaging tray (8) from the transport device (11).