Vacuum Suction Gripper for Food Product Sorting and Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food handling machinery requires multiple machines for sorting, organizing, and transporting food products, leading to increased packaging time and resource inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A robotic food product handling device with a movable loading head equipped with a vacuum system and suction devices, along with sliding mounting blocks, which can pick up and transport food products, sort, organize, and deposit them into packaging efficiently by sliding between positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple separate machines are used for sorting, organizing, and transporting food products, then each function can be performed by specialized equipment, but the overall packaging time increases and the number of machines required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sorting, organizing, and transporting functions into a single integrated food handling device. The device includes a movable loading head with multiple suction devices that can simultaneously sort and organize multiple food products while transporting them to the packaging location, eliminating the need for separate sorting and organizing machines.
Solution Approach 2:
The food handling device performs multiple functions through a single machine. The loading head can simultaneously pick up, sort, organize, and transport multiple food products, making the device universal enough to handle various packaging configurations without requiring additional specialized equipment.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate machines are used for sorting, organizing, and transporting food products, then each function can be performed by specialized equipment, but resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple food handling functions into one device, reducing the total number of machines required in the packaging line. This integration improves resource efficiency by minimizing equipment investment, floor space requirements, and maintenance needs while maintaining comprehensive food handling capabilities.
3Productivity
If individual food products are transported one at a time to the packaging device, then precise control over packaging is achieved, but packaging time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The loading head is divided into multiple suction devices that can independently engage and transport individual food products. This segmentation allows the device to handle multiple products simultaneously while maintaining precise control over each product's position and placement, achieving both high speed and precise packaging control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution streamlines the food handling process by integrating sorting, organizing, and transporting functions into a single device, reducing packaging time and the need for multiple machines, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum system operatively associated with the head
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of suction devices carried by the head and configured to pick up and transport a food product
Data Source
AI summary
A food product handling device includes a movable loading head having a plurality of coupling rails, a vacuum system operatively associated with the loading head, a plurality of suction devices carried by the loading head and configured to pick up and transport a food product, a plurality of mounting blocks slidably coupled to each other by the coupling rails, and an actuating device operatively associated with the mounting blocks for sliding each of the mounting blocks between a first position and a second position. Each of the suction devices is selectively coupled to the vacuum system. At least one of the suction devices coupled to each of the mounting blocks. The actuating device includes an actuating cylinder configured to displace the mounting blocks between the first position and a second position.