Stacking Apparatus Flap Guide Mechanism for Foldable Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional stacking apparatuses and equipment struggle to efficiently and safely stack objects with foldably-attached parts, flaps, and panels, leading to injuries, damage, and instability due to irregular folding and obstruction during the stacking process.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical stacking apparatus with a lift assembly and flap guide system that moves foldably-attached parts and panels out of the way, allowing for nested vertical stacking, using cams and cam followers to manage the flaps and prevent obstruction, enabling efficient and stable stacking of containers and boxes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional stacking apparatuses are used to stack objects with foldably-attached parts, then stacking can be performed, but the flaps and panels create obstructions and cause instability during the stacking process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by moving the flaps and panels out of the way before the stacking operation occurs. The flap guide assemblies are positioned to engage with the foldably-attached parts and guide them to a safe position prior to the container being stacked, preventing obstructions and ensuring stable stacking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flap guide assemblies as intermediary components between the container flaps and the stacking mechanism. These guide assemblies mediate the interaction by controlling the movement of flaps and panels, directing them away from the stacking path to prevent obstructions while maintaining stacking efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If manual vertical stacking is performed, then containers can be stacked, but errors and injuries occur due to damage during stacking and irregular folding of flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the stacking apparatus to automatically manage the flaps and panels during the stacking process. The system serves itself by using the container's own flaps as part of the stacking mechanism, where the flaps are guided to interlock with the container below, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing injuries and damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical stacking system with an automated apparatus that uses cam-operated flap guide assemblies. This substitution eliminates human involvement in the stacking operation, preventing injuries while the mechanical system carefully controls the folding and positioning of flaps to prevent damage.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flaps and panels are left unfolded during assembly, then containers can be stacked vertically, but the free-moving parts obstruct the stacking process and create jams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flap guide assemblies movable rather than fixed. The guides are positioned to move with the container during stacking, dynamically adjusting their position to maintain engagement with the flaps throughout the stacking process. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle the complexity of free-moving flaps while maintaining stable vertical stacking.
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 ensures safe and stable vertical stacking of objects with foldably-attached parts, reducing injuries and damage, while maintaining a stable and efficient stacking process, facilitating low-cost transportation of stacked goods.
Implementation Method 1
one or more flap guide assemblies, each flap guide assembly including a cam and a cam follower configured to move along a cam track of the cam
Implementation Method 2
a lifting mechanism configured to vertically move the container to stack the container onto the previous container in the container stack
Data Source
AI summary
Stacking apparatuses and/or equipment for stacking objects with foldably-attached parts (e.g., containers with flaps), methods of stacking objects with foldably-attached parts, and methods of manufacturing stacking apparatuses and/or equipment for stacking objects with foldably-attached parts. The stacking apparatuses have at least two flap guide assemblies with one or more arms and one or more flap guides, one or more cams, each cam having a cam track and a cam follower, and a lift assembly having a lifting mechanism to move the next object to be stacked into a stack of substantially identical objects. The present stacking apparatuses stack objects in a manner that avoids jams or obstructions due to irregular folding and/or obstruction of the stacking process by the foldably-attached parts.