Torque Shaft Gripper Unit for Packaging Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines with gripper systems face issues such as surface damage from frictional contact, high manufacturing costs, increased construction weight, and large size due to complex drive mechanisms and energy chains, making them difficult to assemble, costly, and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine design featuring a gripper unit with a slide adjustable along a track, using a torque shaft as both a drive and guide element for linear movement, eliminating the need for energy chains and support structures, and employing a central motor for compact and cost-effective operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pivoting gripper system with separate drive motors for each gripper arm is used, then the gripper can grip packages, but the pivoting movement causes frictional contact that damages the package surface and the complex drive system increases manufacturing costs and machine weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drive function and guide function into a single torque shaft. The torque shaft serves as both the drive element for the second linear drive (actuating the gripper) and the guide element for the first linear drive (moving the carriage), eliminating the need for separate drive motors and support structures for each gripper arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque shaft performs multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits torque to actuate the gripper, guides the carriage movement, and eliminates the need for separate support structures. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components and simplifies the system architecture.
2Ease of operation
If a moving drive with an energy chain is used for the linear feed movement of gripper arms, then the drive can be attached to the gripper, but the system requires significant space due to the drive and energy chain support structures arranged above the gripper
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive function from the moving gripper and relocates it to a stationary position. The torque shaft is mounted along the first track rather than being attached to the moving gripper, eliminating the need for energy chains and their support structures that would otherwise be required above the gripper.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque shaft is oriented transversely to the first track (along the second direction), utilizing the vertical dimension efficiently. This orientation allows the drive mechanism to be compact in the vertical direction while still providing the necessary actuation force, reducing the overall machine height to 1.5-2.1 meters.
3Productivity
If separate drive motors are mounted on each gripper arm for linear feed movement, then each gripper arm can be independently actuated, but the accelerated mass increases and energy consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The drive function is extracted from the moving gripper components and placed in a stationary torque shaft mounted along the first track. This eliminates the need to accelerate separate motor units and their associated energy chains, significantly reducing the accelerated mass and energy consumption while maintaining actuation capability.
4Reliability
If a complex gripper system with multiple drive components and energy chains is used, then the gripper can perform gripping operations, but the number of cost-intensive components increases and maintenance becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions (drive and guide) into a single torque shaft component, eliminating the need for separate drive motors, energy chains, and their support structures. This consolidation reduces the number of cost-intensive components while maintaining reliable gripping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The torque shaft serves multiple functions simultaneously - actuating the gripper, guiding the carriage, and eliminating the need for separate support structures. This multi-functionality reduces both the component count and manufacturing complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging machine (1), in particular in the form of a tray sealing machine (2), comprising a gripper unit (11) with a carriage (13) adjustably mounted along a first track (12) and with at least one gripper (29, 29a, 29b) movably mounted on the carriage (13) for grasping and transporting at least one object (P), a first linear drive (14) for adjusting the carriage (13) along the first track (12), a second linear drive (26) for opening and closing the gripper (29, 29a, 29b) along a second track (30) extending transversely to the first track (12), wherein the second linear drive (26) for opening and closing the gripper (29, 29a, 29b) along the second track (30) has a torque shaft (24) mounted along the first track (12). The invention further relates to a corresponding method.