Timber Package Stacking Carrier Plane Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timber packaging systems face challenges with slender timber pieces tipping or becoming disorganized during the transfer process, limiting transfer speeds and requiring complex handling due to large forces and varying timber dimensions.

Innovation Solution

The use of multiple independently controlled carrier planes that cyclically move along guides, allowing one plane to interact with the upper surface of the timber to press it down while another plane is withdrawn, enabling continuous layer construction without waiting for a holder to be repositioned, thus maintaining control and increasing packaging speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a holder is used to press down the timber layer during transfer arm withdrawal, then the timber pieces are retained and do not tip or become disorganized, but the holder must be withdrawn to allow new layers to be placed, which considerably limits the speed with which the packager can operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetimber layer stabilityVSAvoidpackaging speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the carrier plane into multiple independently controllable segments or zones. This allows different parts of the carrier plane to perform different functions simultaneously - some segments can be withdrawn while others remain in position to support timber layers, eliminating the need to withdraw the entire holder structure and thereby increasing packaging speed while maintaining timber stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier plane is designed with dynamic, independently controllable segments that can adjust their position and function in real-time. This dynamic configuration allows the system to maintain timber layer stability during transfer operations while enabling rapid repositioning and withdrawal of only the necessary segments, thus resolving the speed-limiting constraint of traditional fixed holder mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If transfer arms are designed to handle layers of timber with large forces and varying dimensions, then accurate control can be achieved, but the large forces of acceleration and retardation during transfer lead to limitations on achieving the desired transfer speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelayer control accuracyVSAvoidtransfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The transfer system is segmented into multiple independently controllable carrier planes that can operate with reduced individual forces. By distributing the handling workload across multiple segments, the system achieves accurate control of timber layers while minimizing the large acceleration and retardation forces that limit transfer speed in single-arm systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier plane acts as an intermediary between the transfer arms and the timber layers. It provides a stable, distributed support surface that enables accurate layer control during transfer operations while reducing the impact of large forces and accelerations, thereby allowing higher transfer speeds without sacrificing control accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2248746B1Method and arrangement for the stacking in layers of timber packages
Publication Date: 2015.07.29 RENHOLMEN
  • EP2248746B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2248746B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention concerns a method and an arrangement for the stacking in layers of timber packages (8') that uses a transfer arrangement consisting of several individual carrier planes (5,6,7) that are mobile one after the other around a cyclic path and which, for the transfer of one layer (20,21,22) at a time from an input transporter (1) to a stacking table (8) that can be raised and lowered. The carrier planes receive layers fed from the transporter by lifting a complete layer and displacing the layer over the stacking table (8). The first, second and third carrier plane (5,6,7) move mutually in a cycle in such a manner that one pair of two consecutive carrier planes (5,6) is located at the same time at a position above the stacking table (8).