Staggered Pen-Shaped Grippers for Egg Box Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack a universal gripping device capable of accurately placing varying egg boxes into outer packaging without damaging the boxes or their contents, as existing solutions are not adaptable to different box sizes and designs.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with pen-shaped grippers that can rotate and are attached to a frame, allowing for staggered placement and centering, along with a pressing element to ensure secure and damage-free positioning, enabling the device to handle boxes of different dimensions and designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plate grippers are used to grasp egg boxes, then multiple boxes can be grasped simultaneously, but the grippers cannot be universally applied to different box sizes and designs
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is divided into multiple independent pen-shaped gripper elements (at least three) that can individually adjust their positions. Each pen can be independently rotated and positioned to adapt to different box configurations, allowing the system to grasp various box sizes and designs while maintaining the capability to handle multiple boxes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper employs dynamic adjustment mechanisms where the pens can be rotated around their longitudinal axes and moved radially inward or outward. This dynamic capability allows the gripper to adapt its configuration to match different box dimensions and designs, transforming a static gripper design into a versatile, adaptive system.
2Device complexity
If fixed-position grippers are used, then the structure is simple, but the grippers cannot accommodate varying box dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper incorporates movable pens that can be rotated and repositioned radially, transforming a simple fixed structure into a dynamically adjustable system. This allows the gripper to accommodate varying box dimensions while maintaining relatively simple mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper design achieves multi-functionality by enabling the same gripper structure to handle multiple box types and sizes through the adjustable pen positions. The pens can be configured in different arrangements to suit various box dimensions, making a single gripper universally applicable.
3Ease of operation
If pen-shaped grippers are used, then the grippers can be retracted without hindrance, but the grippers may interfere with each other when placed next to each other
Solution Approach 1:
The pens are arranged in an asymmetric, staggered pattern rather than in uniform rows. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that when multiple gripping devices are positioned next to each other, the pens do not align in a way that causes interference during retraction, while still maintaining smooth retraction capability for each individual pen.
4Adaptability or versatility
If hand packing is used, then flexibility in handling varying egg boxes is achieved, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper system performs self-adjustment through its automated pen rotation and radial movement mechanisms. The system automatically adapts its configuration to match different box types without requiring manual intervention, combining the flexibility of hand packing with the speed of automated machinery.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamically adjustable pens enable the automated gripper to flexibly adapt to varying box dimensions and designs, replicating the adaptability of manual handling while maintaining automated packaging speeds and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a gripping device (2) for placing boxes (1), in particular egg boxes, in an outer packaging, wherein the gripping device comprises a amobile frame (3); grippers (4) placed on both sides of the frame in such a way that in use the grippers are situated on both sides of the box, whereby the grippers can be moved between a box supporting position and an unloading position, wherein each gripper is formed by a mainly pen-shaped body with a hook-shaped end (6), whereby at least the hook-shaped end (6) can be rotated around the longitudinal axis of the gripper, and wherein the grippers on the one side of the box are attached staggeringly in relation to the grippers on the other side of the box.