Suction Barrel Lifting With Elastic Ring Sealing for Upright Conveyance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing barrel conveyance apparatuses are inefficient and unreliable in gripping and conveying barrels of varying sizes and shapes, often leading to dropping or overturning during lifting.
Innovation Solution
A barrel lift apparatus with an annular member made of neoprene rubber and a suction unit using a blower to securely hold barrels upright, combined with a lifting/lowering unit for efficient conveyance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If support members approach the barrel side surface from outer sides to grip it, then the barrel can be securely held, but it takes a long time to grip the barrel and conveyance efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gripping system (support members approaching from outer sides) with a suction-based holding system. The suction holding unit creates negative pressure to hold the barrel, eliminating the need for mechanical approach and grip actions, thereby significantly reducing the time required for barrel handling while maintaining secure holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles through the suction holding unit that uses negative pressure (suction force) to hold the barrel. By introducing pneumatic pressure control, the system can quickly engage and disengage from the barrel without mechanical movement, improving both speed and efficiency of barrel conveyance.
2Ease of operation
If barrels are placed with gaps between them on a pallet, then each barrel can be individually accessed, but the space utilization is reduced and conveyance efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The suction holding unit can penetrate through the barrel stave gaps to hold the barrel from the inside, eliminating the need for external mechanical gripping. This allows barrels to be placed closely together on pallets without requiring access gaps, as the suction force can be applied through the natural stave openings of the barrel structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lifting methods are used for barrels of various sizes and shapes, then the apparatus can handle different barrel types, but the gripping strength is insufficient and barrels may be dropped or turned over
Solution Approach 1:
The suction holding unit uses pneumatic pressure that can be uniformly distributed across the barrel surface. The negative pressure created by the suction unit adapts to different barrel sizes and shapes, maintaining consistent holding force regardless of barrel dimensions. This pneumatic approach provides reliable holding strength for various barrel types without requiring mechanical adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can adjust the suction pressure parameters to accommodate different barrel sizes and shapes. By varying the negative pressure level, the apparatus maintains optimal holding force for small or large barrels, ensuring reliable grip across all barrel types without mechanical reconfiguration.
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 efficient and reliable conveyance of barrels in an upright state, regardless of size or shape, with reduced risk of dropping or overturning.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit configured to suction an inside of a contact portion between the annular member and the outer circumferential edge of the upper surface of the barrel to suction-hold the barrel to the contact plate
Implementation Method 2
a contact plate mounted with an annular member having elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
A barrel lift apparatus to be used for lifting a barrel. The barrel lift apparatus includes a contact plate, a suction unit, and a lifting/lowering unit. The contact plate is mounted with an annular member having elasticity, the annular member being configured to be brought into contact with an outer circumferential edge of an upper surface of a barrel that is in an upright state. The suction unit is configured to suction an inside of a contact portion between the annular member and the outer circumferential edge of the upper surface of the barrel to suction-hold the barrel to the contact plate. The lifting/lowering unit is configured to move, in upward and downward directions, the contact plate to which the barrel has been suction-held by the suction unit.