Suction Face Valve Ball Arresting Means for Pallet Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for handling palletized goods struggle with certainty when dealing with layers that have openings or film-covered articles, as they fail to securely destack individual articles and are not adaptable to various types of pallet configurations.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features resiliently designed valve balls that prevent contact with unclosed valve seats, automatic release mechanisms, and inflatable squeezing pads with a pressure regulating system, allowing for secure handling of diverse palletized goods by adjusting suction pressure and airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional suction chambers with valve balls are used, then suction force is generated to hold pallet layers, but valve balls close prematurely when encountering openings or film-covered articles, causing unreliable handling
Solution Approach 1:
The suction face is divided into multiple individually controllable suction chambers, each with its own valve ball and valve seat. This segmentation allows independent control of suction in different areas, enabling the system to adapt to openings or film-covered articles by selectively activating or deactivating specific chambers based on contact feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve balls are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to respond dynamically to contact forces from pallet layers. When a valve ball encounters an opening or film-covered article, it can move to prevent premature closure, and the system can adapt its suction force accordingly through individual chamber control.
2Reliability
If suction pressure is increased to ensure secure holding, then handling reliability improves, but the system becomes less adaptable to different pallet configurations and risks damaging goods
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the suction face into multiple independently controllable chambers, the system can apply different suction pressures to different areas. This allows adaptation to various pallet configurations where some areas may require higher suction while others with openings or film-covered articles require lower or no suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can dynamically adjust suction pressure parameters for each chamber based on actual contact conditions. When valve balls detect resistance from film-covered articles or openings, the control system can modify suction pressure parameters individually, preventing damage while maintaining secure holding where needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the suction face is designed with many suction chambers to handle various pallet types, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction face is segmented into multiple chambers with individual valve balls and valve seats, allowing independent control of each area. This segmentation enables the system to handle various pallet types by selectively activating appropriate chambers while maintaining a manageable structure through standardized valve mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve ball and valve seat design is universal and can be used across all suction chambers. This standardized multi-functional component reduces overall system complexity by using the same basic mechanism throughout, while the arrangement of chambers can be configured for different pallet types.
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
This solution enables reliable and efficient destacking of palletized goods, even with openings or film-covered articles, by ensuring valve balls do not close prematurely, and allows for easy replacement and maintenance, enhancing the adaptability and reliability of the handling process.
Implementation Method 1
the arresting means are constituted by downwards bluntly designed bodies which are resiliently suspended for yielding to valve balls which are already in closing abutment with the valve seat of the associated suction chamber
Implementation Method 2
the lift head comprises squeezing means adapted to exert an inwardly pressure at the outer sides of the goods in the uppermost pallet layer
Implementation Method 3
the suction chambers via individual valves are connected with a source of vacuum incorporated in the lift head
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
An apparatus for handling layers of palletised goods, including a vertically displaceable lift head (2) with a mainly horizontal suction face which is substantially adjusted in size for a pallet, and which consists of a large number of downward open suction chambers (8) which via individual valves and an air distribution chamber is connected to a centrifugal blower (4), which is incorporated in the lift head (2) and constitutes the vacuum source of the apparatus, the suction face being arranged to be moved downwards against the upper side of an upper layer of individually or groupwise packed goods on a pallet, and where said valves are designed as ball valves with light, thin- walled spherical valve bodies (10), the valves arranged to be closed if the associated suction chamber (8) is not blocked downwards by contacting the upper side of the goods on the uppermost pallet layer, which the lift head (2) along the outer sides of the suction face comprises a vertically adjustable skirt with inflatable squeezing pads arranged for exerting an inwardly directed pressure on the outer sides of the goods of the upper pallet layer, where in connection with each valve there are provided arresting means adapted to prevent the prevent the valve balls (10) from shutting off the valves.