Stacking Device for Disposable Wipes With Dynamic Guide Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stacking devices for multi-layer packets of disposable wipes deform and fail to synchronize correctly, especially at high production speeds, due to narrow guide spacing and uneven thrust forces, leading to deformation, unsightly folds, and irregular stacking.
Innovation Solution
A stacking device with alternating vertical and horizontal translation movements of guides, allowing adjustable empty space and synchronized movement with the tamper, eliminating deformation and enabling varied tamper shapes and forces, ensuring precise and efficient stacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the empty space between guides is made narrow to support groups well, then group support is improved, but group deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guides are designed with movable portions that can dynamically adjust their position. The fixed part provides stable support while the movable part can shift to accommodate the group width, allowing the system to adapt between narrow spacing for precision and wider spacing to prevent deformation during the stacking operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each guide is divided into a fixed part and a movable part, allowing independent adjustment of each guide's position. This segmentation enables the system to maintain narrow spacing for precision support while allowing localized movement to prevent overall group deformation.
2Shape
If the empty space between guides is made wide to prevent deformation, then group shape is improved, but group stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movable portions of the guides can shift their position dynamically. During the stacking operation, they can move to increase the empty space and prevent deformation, while during transport on the main line, they maintain a position that ensures group stability and prevents accidental detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The guides provide different characteristics at different locations: the fixed part ensures stable support and group formation, while the movable part provides flexibility to prevent deformation. This local differentiation of guide properties allows simultaneous achievement of stability and shape preservation.
3Productivity
If tamper thrust force is increased to overcome guide resistance, then transfer efficiency is improved, but group deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable guides reduce the resistance force that the tamper must overcome by dynamically adjusting to the group's position and dimensions. This allows the tamper to apply sufficient thrust force for efficient transfer without generating excessive deformation, as the guides accommodate the group's passage more smoothly.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable guide portions act as intermediaries between the tamper and the groups. They absorb and distribute the thrust force, reducing the peak stresses and deformation on the groups while still enabling efficient transfer from the main line to the secondary line.
4Adaptability or versatility
If guide spacing is adjusted for different group formats, then adaptability is improved, but machine setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable guide portions can be quickly adjusted to accommodate different group formats without requiring complete machine reconfiguration. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the machine to adapt to varying wipe group dimensions while minimizing setup time through simple positional changes rather than complex realignment procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A stacking device (1 ) suitable to pack multi-layer packets composed of a specific number of groups (2) of disposable wipes, comprising: - a tamper (3) for said groups (2) provided with an alternating vertical translation movement; - a supporting surface of said groups (2) comprising two guides (5) separated by an empty space (S) of lesser width than the width of the groups (2), inside which said groups pass under the thrust of the tamper (3),- - at least a belt (6) to drive and convey said groups (2),- - a lowerator member (7), suitable to receive the groups (2) stacked in packets, to transfer them to a secondary collection belt (15) suitable to convey said packets to a packaging line, wherein said two guides (5) each comprise a fixed part (51) and a moving part (5"), wherein each said moving part (5") is connected to means suitable to generate an alternating horizontal translation movement, synchronized with the alternating vertical translation movement of the tamper (3), so as to increase the empty space (S) separating said two guides (5) during the passage of said groups (2).