Segmented Roller Body with Variable Cutting Edges for Container Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container compacting devices face a compromise between high compaction efficiency and reliable feeding, as large cutting edges ensure secure drawing but may deform containers excessively, while small edges improve compaction but may fail to draw in containers reliably.

Innovation Solution

The device features protruding elements of varying sizes and arrangements, with larger elements in the central area for secure drawing and smaller elements in lateral areas for improved compaction, along with a segmented roller body design for enhanced spatial association and reduced malfunction risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If large cutting edges are used on the roller body, then the reliability of drawing in containers is improved, but the degree of compaction deteriorates due to excessive deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding reliabilityVSAvoidcompaction quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The roller body is divided into different lateral areas with locally optimized cutting edge properties. Large cutting edges are positioned in the central lateral area to ensure reliable drawing in of containers, while small cutting edges are positioned in the adjacent lateral areas to improve compaction quality by reducing excessive deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between feeding reliability and compaction quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The roller body is segmented into multiple lateral areas with different cutting edge configurations. The segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone: the central area handles drawing-in functions with large edges, while the side areas handle compaction functions with small edges, thereby resolving the trade-off between these two competing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If small cutting edges are used on the roller body, then the degree of compaction is improved, but the reliability of drawing in containers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompaction qualityVSAvoidfeeding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Small cutting edges are strategically placed only in the adjacent lateral areas where compaction is most needed, while large cutting edges remain in the central area to ensure reliable drawing in. This localized application of small edges improves compaction without sacrificing overall feeding reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The roller body is segmented to distribute different cutting edge sizes across different lateral areas. This segmentation ensures that the reliability-critical central zone maintains large edges while the compaction-critical side zones use small edges, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2508332B1Device for compacting containers
Publication Date: 2017.04.19 WINCOR NIXDORF INT GMBH
  • EP2508332B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2508332B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The device has a drivable roll body (1) rotatably arranged around a body longitudinal axis (3) and comprising radially protruding elements (6) i.e. hook-shaped cutters. The protruding elements are arranged in such a manner that the protruding elements partially engage with recesses (12) during rotation of the roll body around the longitudinal axis. The protruding elements are provided with varying size and different contour and spaced from each other in a circumferential direction. Disk segments (8) are arranged in a middle area (10) and lateral regions (11) of the roll body.