Spring-Loaded Closure Elements for Product Stack Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for transferring and packaging stacks of plastic products, such as cups and bowls, are largely manual and prone to product damage due to the lack of fully automatic handling, especially when dealing with horizontal or vertical orientations, leading to limited stack heights and increased risk of product breakage.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with spring-loaded closure elements and guide elements that securely hold and release product stacks, allowing for automatic handling and orientation-independent transfer, utilizing a handling device like a robot to move the transfer device between manufacturing and packaging stations, enabling flexible and efficient processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual handling is used for forwarding and packaging product stacks, then flexibility in handling different products is maintained, but the risk of product damage increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device automatically secures and releases product stacks using spring-loaded closure elements and guide elements without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the product stacks' own geometry to engage with the guide elements, eliminating the need for human operators to handle each stack individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer device acts as an intermediary between the deep-drawing machine and the packaging machine. It receives product stacks from the manufacturing machine, securely holds them during transfer, and delivers them to the packaging station, thereby protecting products from damage during handling while enabling automated high-speed operation.
2Extent of automation
If manual packaging is used, then adaptability to different product types is maintained, but the extent of automation remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is designed with universal guide elements and receiving areas that can accommodate different product stack geometries. The spring-loaded closure elements adapt to various stack heights and configurations, allowing the same automated device to handle multiple product types without requiring manual intervention for each variant.
3Speed
If product stacks are pushed off horizontally using a squeegee, then discharge speed is improved, but the risk of stacks falling apart increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded closure elements apply a preliminary securing action to the product stacks before discharge. This pre-securing prevents the stacks from falling apart during the high-speed pushing operation, counteracting the potential harmful effect of the discharge force.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements and closure elements provide a cushioning effect by gradually engaging with the product stacks during insertion and securing them before the pushing operation. This beforehand cushioning prevents sudden impacts that could cause stacks to break apart during discharge.
4Productivity
If stack height is increased to improve productivity, then the number of products per cycle increases, but the risk of breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure elements are spring-loaded to automatically engage and secure product stacks of varying heights before discharge. This preliminary securing action ensures that even tall stacks are properly supported and protected during transfer, enabling increased stack heights without proportionally increasing breakage risk.
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
Enables fully automatic forwarding and packaging of product stacks in various orientations, enhancing throughput, flexibility, and reliability by eliminating the need for manual handling and reducing the risk of product damage, while accommodating different production requirements and machine configurations.
Implementation Method 1
the transfer device having a plurality of receiving areas for product stacks with stacks of products being held by spring-loaded closure elements
Implementation Method 2
the transfer device having plates which are spring-loaded movable towards the closure members in the receiving areas along the direction of the guide elements
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a transfer device for transferring product stacks, comprising a connecting element (6) for connecting the device (1) to a transport device, further comprising a plurality of delimited receiving regions (7) for product stacks provided with guiding elements (8, 9) with spring-loaded closing elements (10), and comprising plates (12) that can be moved in a spring-loaded manner toward the closing elements at least in the receiving regions (7) along the direction of the guiding elements (8, 9). The invention further relates to a method, according to which elastically pretensioned locking elements (10) holding the product stack (5) in the transfer device (1) are released by means of the releasing members (11) provided on the receiving station in order to release the product stack (5). The product stacks (5) are pushed out from the transfer device (1) by plates (12) that are subject to spring pressure.