Syringe Transfer Apparatus Preventing Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for transferring syringes with fragile glass barrels from packaging machines often result in collisions and damage, leading to high costs and low yields due to the inability to maintain syringes separate during the transfer process.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that arranges syringes in a predefined separated formation, using a drawing device with mobile seatings and a pick-up and place device with gripping means to maintain syringes separate during transfer to containers, preventing mutual impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple syringes are collected simultaneously during transfer, then productivity is improved, but syringes are subjected to impacting against one another causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device is divided into multiple independent transfer elements (fingers or grippers) that each handle a single syringe. These segmented elements move in coordinated fashion, allowing multiple syringes to be transferred simultaneously while maintaining separation between them, thus preventing impacts while improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer device with multiple transfer elements acts as an intermediary between the packaging machine outlet and the container. This intermediary device holds multiple syringes in a controlled manner during transfer, preventing direct contact and impacting between syringes while enabling batch transfer to maintain productivity.
2Reliability
If syringes are arranged in predefined formation and maintained separated, then damage from impacts is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer device uses multiple simple, identical transfer elements (fingers or grippers) rather than a single complex mechanism. Each element is simple in design but the coordinated arrangement of multiple elements achieves the complex function of maintaining separation while enabling batch transfer, thus preventing damage without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple simple transfer functions are merged into a single coordinated device. The transfer device combines multiple grippers or fingers that work together in unison, achieving both the separation function and the batch transfer function simultaneously, thus maintaining reliability while controlling overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is described for transferring a plurality of articles (1), at least partially made of a fragile material, such as for example syringes for injections, by an automatic machine which presents them at an outlet thereof, separated from one another, to containers (2) comprising a plurality of housings (21) in each of which the articles (1) are singly housable, separate from one another. Also disclosed is an apparatus for implementing the method, which method comprises the following steps: placing a plurality of articles (1) presented at the output of the automatic machine, in a predetermined formation in which they are maintained separated from one another; removing more than one of the articles (1) arranged in step a. and maintaining them separate from one another, taking them to a container (2), and inserting the articles (1) therein, maintaining them separated from each other in the container (2).