Square Egg Tray Stacking With Motor-Controlled Horizontal Carriers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing stacking devices for egg trays are prone to faults due to the reliance on gravity and contact with fragile egg trays, leading to poor carrying capacity and increased waste, especially when handling square egg trays.

Innovation Solution

The device employs horizontally extending second carrying elements that move in a horizontal plane, allowing for reliable engagement and positioning of egg trays, minimizing uncontrollable movements, and enabling the use of motor-controlled motion to enhance stability and reduce wear on the trays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hinged strips are used as second carrying elements that rest on edges of the stacking location, then the device can carry egg trays, but the carrying action becomes fault-prone and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of carrying actionVSAvoidcomplexity of hinged strip mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the gravity-dependent hinged strip mechanism with a motor-controlled linear actuation system. The second carrying elements are moved horizontally in a straight line rather than rotating on hinges, eliminating the fault-prone gravitational dropping action and providing more reliable, controlled carrying movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control of the second carrying elements through motorized linear movement. The carrying elements can be precisely positioned and moved horizontally to carry egg trays, providing adaptable and reliable carrying action that is not dependent on gravitational forces or hinge mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If second carrying elements are arranged at right angles to the discharge transport direction, then they can carry egg trays, but they cannot drop downward earlier and must wait until completely tilted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of dropping actionVSAvoidcontrol of dropping timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables independent horizontal movement of the second carrying elements at right angles to the discharge direction. This allows the carrying elements to be positioned and moved horizontally to carry egg trays, then independently dropped or repositioned without being constrained by gravitational tilting, providing precise control over dropping timing and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the bottom edge of the egg tray is used for carrying, then the device can be simple, but the thin bottom edge becomes very weak when wet and produces a lot of rubbish

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrying capacityVSAvoidfragility of bottom edge

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the carrying function from the vertical dimension (relying on the thin bottom edge) to the horizontal dimension. The second carrying elements extend horizontally and carry the egg tray by its sides, distributing the load across a larger area and avoiding concentration of force on the fragile bottom edge, thereby preventing damage and waste.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If motor-controlled motion is used for second carrying elements, then fault-proneness is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of carrying actionVSAvoidcomplexity of motor control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex hinged mechanical systems with simpler linear actuation mechanisms. The motor-controlled linear movement of the second carrying elements provides reliable carrying action while using less complex mechanical components compared to multiple hinged strips and gravitational mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250320011A1Stacking device for egg trays

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 HEDIPACK TECH BEHEER BV

AI summary

The present invention relates to a stacking device for the stacking and unstacking of square egg trays, supplied to under a stacking location, and to be discharged via a discharge conveyor, comprising:a receiving device for the successive receiving and carrying of egg trays,a stacking device located above the receiving device, comprising a passage that is suitable for transporting the platform loaded with an egg tray through it, and is defined by movable second carrying elements,a lifting device, comprising a platform for bringing an egg tray upward from the receiving device,wherein the stacking device is configured to cause an egg tray filled with eggs, to engage on an underside of a further egg traythe second carrying elements extend at least substantially horizontally and at right angles to the discharge transport direction and are configured to move in a horizontal plane in the transport direction away from each other and toward each other.The invention also relates to a method for stacking and unstacking egg trays.