Slicing Machine Gripper Product Detection via Mechanical Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slicing machines face challenges in accurately detecting product calibers due to contamination and the inability to distinguish between multiple grippers, leading to potential misidentification and inefficient processing.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical product detection system using a movable sensing element coupled to a signal transmitter, which is optically detected by a sensor unit outside the contamination zone, allowing for precise and reliable detection of product calibers without electrical or pneumatic systems, ensuring each gripper is correctly engaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If electrically operated contact-sensitive or contactless sensors are provided on the gripper to detect product caliber presence, then detection precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to contamination and malfunctions requiring frequent cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is extracted from the gripper and relocated to a contamination-free area of the slicing machine. The gripper retains only the mechanical sensing element (button element), while the electronic sensor that requires cleaning and maintenance is positioned remotely, eliminating the trade-off between detection precision and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A mechanical button element serves as an intermediary between the product caliber and the sensor system. The button element physically contacts the product caliber to detect its presence, then mechanically or magnetically transmits this information to the sensor unit, which is positioned in a contamination-free zone. This intermediary approach allows precise detection without exposing sensitive sensors to contamination.
2Device complexity
If drive torque on a common drive device is used to detect product caliber presence, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates because it cannot distinguish between multiple grippers
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into individual sensing elements, each associated with a specific gripper. Instead of using a single common drive torque sensor for all grippers, each gripper has its own button element that independently detects the presence of a product caliber at its specific location, enabling precise gripper-specific detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing function is copied to each individual gripper through dedicated button elements. Rather than using a centralized detection method that monitors overall system torque, each gripper has its own simplified mechanical sensor that independently detects local product presence, providing accurate per-gripper information without complex centralized monitoring.
3Reliability
If mechanical sensing elements are placed on the gripper to detect product caliber, then reliability is improved by avoiding electrical systems in contamination zones, but device complexity increases due to mechanical coupling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The complex mechanical coupling system is replaced with a magnetic coupling mechanism. The button element on the gripper interacts with the sensor unit through magnetic fields rather than direct mechanical connections, eliminating the need for complex mechanical linkages while maintaining reliable detection in contamination-prone environments.
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
This solution provides a robust and reliable product detection system that accurately identifies the presence of product calibers at each gripper, reducing errors and improving processing efficiency, even in environments prone to contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor unit which is arranged away from the gripper, in particular outside the contamination-intensive zone from the gripper to the cutting unit, and detects the position of the signal transmitter
Data Source
AI summary
In order to reliably detect, without supplying electric current or any other type of energy to a gripper, whether a rear end of a product caliber is in a grippable position close to a gripper base body and/or gripper claws are extended into the product caliber, i.e., are activated, a signal transmitter may be moved into an activated position via a purely mechanical operative connection between a sensing element, which detects the approach of the product caliber to the gripper base body in a contacting manner, which position can be detected by a sensor arranged far behind the gripper at a base frame of the machine.