Thin Opening Arm for Cardboard Box Forming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing box forming apparatuses that open cardboard sheets folded like a plate into boxes are oversized due to the need for a sucking apparatus, such as a vacuum pump, to generate the required force.

Innovation Solution

A box forming apparatus with an opening arm that is thinner than the clearance between adjacent flaps in a cardboard sheet, allowing it to push and separate the flaps without the need for a vacuum pump, thereby downsizing the apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a sucking apparatus such as a vacuum pump is used to open the cardboard sheet, then the opening force is sufficient, but the apparatus size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopening forceVSAvoidapparatus size

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the vacuum pump (pneumatic system) with a mechanical pushing system. The opening arm is moved by a driving mechanism that directly pushes the arm to insert into the clearance and apply force to the flap, eliminating the need for a vacuum pump and associated pneumatic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the vacuum pump and sucking apparatus from the system. By extracting these components, the apparatus size is reduced while the opening function is maintained through the simplified mechanical pushing mechanism using the opening arm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Force

If a thick opening arm is used to push the flap, then the pushing force is sufficient, but the opening arm cannot pass through the clearance between flaps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepushing forceVSAvoidopening arm thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The opening arm is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution. The arm has a thinner section that allows it to pass through the clearance between flaps, and a thicker section that provides sufficient pushing force when engaged with the flap. This local variation in geometry resolves the contradiction between size and force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The opening arm can be segmented into different portions with different thicknesses. The first portion (insertion end) has smaller thickness to pass through clearance, while the second portion (pushing end) has larger thickness to deliver sufficient force to the flap, allowing the arm to satisfy both requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240116260A1Box forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.04.11 CANON FINETECH NISCA INC

AI summary

An opening arm has a thickness smaller than a clearance between a pair of flaps that are formed adjacent to each other in one plate-like portion of a pair of plate-like portions of a cardboard sheet folded like a plate. The pair of plate-like portions face each other. A moving portion moves the opening arm. In a state where the opening arm is inserted in the clearance G1 between the pair of flaps, the opening arm faces a flap that is formed in another plate-like portion of the pair of plate-like portions and that is located at a position that faces the clearance. The moving portion moves the opening arm such that the opening arm pushes the flap formed in the other plate-like portion, and that the other plate-like portion is separated from the one plate-like portion.