Christmas Tree Packing Frame with Vertical Elevation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for packing Christmas trees in netting covers cause damage due to downward pressure on branches and result in excessive height issues during transport, leading to scrapped trees and regulatory compliance problems.
Innovation Solution
A box-shaped packing frame with a vertically displaceable platform and a combined gripping and pulling device that allows for efficient packing and elevation, enabling a single person to transfer trees while the apparatus is operated by two people, with a funnel-shaped inlet for netting application and cutting or binding at the inner end.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If upper passive rollers are used to exert downward pressure on upwardly facing branches, then the Christmas trees are compressed and protected during packing, but branches are damaged and broken
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful upper passive rollers that caused branch damage are completely removed from the system. The invention replaces them with a different compression mechanism that does not involve direct downward pressure on the branches from above, thereby eliminating the source of damage while maintaining compression functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a netting material as an intermediary between the compression force and the tree branches. The netting is applied around the tree and then compressed, distributing the force uniformly across the tree structure rather than concentrating it on specific branches, thus preventing breakage while achieving compression.
2Productivity
If the packing frame is elevated to increase packing capacity, then more trees can be packed, but the height becomes excessive and violates transport regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The packing frame is designed with adjustable height capability, allowing it to be elevated during the packing process to increase capacity, and then lowered before transport to comply with height regulations. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between packing capacity and transport compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing height vertically to expand packing capacity, the invention optimizes the horizontal arrangement and utilization of space within the packing frame. By improving horizontal space utilization, the system achieves increased capacity without violating vertical height constraints.
3Productivity
If a vertically displaceable platform is added to the packing frame, then operational efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertically displaceable platform serves multiple functions: it provides a working surface for operators, enables height adjustment for different packing scenarios, and facilitates easy loading and unloading of trees. By consolidating these functions into a single mechanism, the added complexity is justified by the multiple benefits achieved.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (4) for packing Christmas trees in netting covers, including a funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) with a device (8) for providing a tubular net around a tree which is passed through the inlet opening (6), a combined gripping and pulling device (10) adapted for seizing the root end of a Christmas tree and pulling it through the inlet opening (6) for simultaneous compressing and packing the Christmas tree in the netting cover, the apparatus (4) furthermore including a lower conveyor belt (12) for conveying the packed Christmas tree rearwardly to a pallet jack (14) with a packing unit (16) and a pallet (18) with associated side supports (20), wherein the apparatus (4) within the inlet opening (6) includes an upper conveyor belt (22) which is adapted to exert a downward directed pressure on a Christmas tree while being packed into the netting covering and supported on the lower conveyor belt (12), and wherein the packing unit (16) includes a box-shaped packing frame (24) which is adapted to be elevated from a low initial position as the packing frame (24) and the pallet (18), respectively, are filled with Christmas trees. By means of simple technical measures it is hereby possible to achieve an apparatus with improved function in connection with packing of Christmas trees in netting covers and to achieve the immediate approval of the packing unit of the apparatus by the relevant authorities.