Shuttle Packaging System for Box Soiling Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Folding cardboard boxes used for packaging are prone to soiling and damage during transport due to contact with conveyor chains, especially when they have bright, glossy, or reflective surfaces, which affects their appearance and integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method and system utilizing shuttles with suction elements and transfer units to handle and move folding boxes between conveying devices, minimizing direct contact with conveyor chains and ensuring uninterrupted movement, thereby reducing the risk of soiling and damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If outer packages are transported on conveyor chains with sliding contact, then continuous transport and productivity are improved, but the outer packages become soiled and damaged impairing their external appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous transportVSAvoidsoiling and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary transfer mechanism consisting of transfer units with holding elements that temporarily secure outer packages during transfer between conveyor chains. This intermediary system minimizes direct sliding contact between packages and conveyor surfaces, reducing soiling and damage while maintaining continuous transport capability through coordinated transfer operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional sliding mechanical contact system with a holding and transfer system that uses suction elements or mechanical grippers to suspend and move outer packages. This substitution eliminates the harmful sliding friction that causes soiling and damage while preserving the continuous flow required for productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Duration of action of moving object

If conveyor chains slide outer packages along the transport path, then uninterrupted movement is achieved, but the outer packages are soiled by contact with conveyor chains

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuninterrupted movementVSAvoidsoiling

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Transfer units act as intermediaries between conveyor chains, providing a controlled transfer environment where outer packages are temporarily held and precisely positioned. This intermediary approach maintains uninterrupted movement through coordinated transfer while minimizing harmful sliding contact that causes soiling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs suction elements activated by negative pressure to hold and transfer outer packages. This pneumatic mechanism replaces sliding contact with a non-contact holding method, eliminating soiling from conveyor chain contact while maintaining continuous, uninterrupted movement through controlled pneumatic release and transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

The solution effectively minimizes the risk of soiling and damage to the packaging boxes during transport, maintaining their appearance and integrity by using shuttles with suction elements and transfer units to manage their movement between conveying devices.

Implementation Method 1

wherein the several shuttles can each temporarily fix a received outer package mechanically or by negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS20240150128A1Method and packaging system for packaging articles

Publication Date: 2024.05.09 KRONES AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a system for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are set down on a horizontal conveying device (10, 20) and are transported along a packaging line. During the transport, articles are introduced via a manipulator into the outer packages (3), and the outer packages (3) with the introduced articles (2) are subsequently removed from the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8). A predetermined packaging process (VP1) is carried out, in which the outer packages (3) are received by the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) via a plurality of shuttles (5), the outer packages (3) standing on said plurality of shuttles (5), until the outer packages (3) together with the introduced articles (2) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8).