Transfer Device Staggering Gripper for Compact Packing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transfer devices in packing machines struggle to achieve maximum compactness of articles during packing, particularly when articles have variable shapes or orientations, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and potential damage during insertion.

Innovation Solution

The transfer device incorporates a gripping head with retention elements that can move in a staggering direction perpendicular to the support plane, allowing for more compact arrangements of articles by exploiting their shape and orientation, and includes a spreader element to temporarily widen the container opening for easier insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If retention elements are brought close to one another to compact articles, then space utilization improves, but articles may damage each other or the container during insertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoiddamage during insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spreader element performs preliminary action by temporarily widening the container opening before article insertion. This preparatory widening creates sufficient clearance for compacted articles to be inserted safely without damaging the container or each other, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and damage prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Volume of stationary object

If articles are arranged in compact grouped arrangement, then container size can be reduced, but insertion becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer sizeVSAvoidinsertion ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spreader element acts as an intermediary between the gripping head and the container. By temporarily widening the container opening, it facilitates the insertion of compacted articles, thus enabling small container sizes while maintaining ease of insertion operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If retention elements move in staggering direction perpendicular to support plane, then article compactness improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle compactnessVSAvoidmovement mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movement mechanism merges multiple functions: it simultaneously moves retention elements in the staggering direction perpendicular to the support plane and controls their positioning. This consolidation achieves article compactness while minimizing device complexity by combining movements rather than adding separate mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12291408B2Transfer device, particularly for a packing machine

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 GD SPA

AI summary

A transfer device to transfer articles by removing the articles from a removal zone and depositing the articles in a discharge zone, wherein a support plane and a deposit direction substantially perpendicular to the support plane are defined at the discharge zone. The transfer device includes a gripping head with retention elements, each for retaining a respective article, and a movement mechanism configured to move at least one retention element with respect to at least one other retention element in a staggering direction having a non-null component parallel with the deposit direction.