Variable Mass Counterweight for Palletizer Load Balancing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lifting and handling devices require counterweights to prevent tipping and ensure safe operation, but these counterweights are often made of expensive and environmentally harmful materials like lead, and their mass cannot be easily adjusted to match varying load conditions.

Innovation Solution

A palletizing device with a vertically movable counterweight composed of hollow containers filled with variable amounts of granular ballast material, allowing for easy adjustment of weight by adding or removing material through accessible openings, and equipped with a weighing device for precise mass determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If conventional counterweights made of lead or other heavy materials are used, then the counterweight provides sufficient mass to balance varying loads, but the material is expensive and environmentally harmful

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounterweight massVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight mass is made variable by using a hollow container that can be filled with different amounts of granular ballast material. This allows the mass parameter to be changed according to load requirements, replacing fixed heavy lead counterweights with an adjustable system using environmentally friendly materials like steel shot or ceramic beads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive, environmentally harmful lead with cheaper, environmentally friendly granular materials such as steel shot, iron granules, or ceramic beads. These materials are less costly and can be easily disposed of or replaced without environmental concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fixed-mass counterweights are used, then the device structure is simple, but the mass cannot be adjusted to match varying load conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload adaptationVSAvoidcounterweight structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight system transitions from a static fixed-mass design to a dynamic adjustable-mass design. The hollow container with removable granular ballast material allows the counterweight mass to be dynamically adjusted to match varying load conditions, improving adaptability while adding controlled complexity through the filling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The counterweight is segmented into a hollow container structure that can be separately filled with granular ballast material. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of the ballast amount without redesigning the entire counterweight structure, balancing adaptability with structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If cast lead plates are used as ballast material, then the counterweight mass is stable and easy to manufacture, but disposal is difficult and environmentally harmful

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounterweight productionVSAvoiddisposal difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces permanent, difficult-to-dispose lead plates with granular ballast material that can be easily removed and replaced. The hollow container design allows the granular material to be poured out and refilled, making disposal trivial and enabling reuse of the container structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The granular ballast material can be easily discarded by pouring it out of the hollow container and recovered or replaced as needed. This contrasts with lead plates that require cutting and specialized disposal procedures, making the entire lifecycle management simpler and more environmentally friendly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

Enables efficient and environmentally friendly handling of diverse loads by optimizing the counterweight mass, reducing energy consumption, and expanding the device's application range without the need for expensive or hazardous materials.

Implementation Method 1

counterweights are required to prevent impermissible load ratios or even tipping over

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

equipped with a weighing device for precise mass determination

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWeight measurement:

Data Source

PatentEP2690038B1Palletizer, stacking and/or handling device

Publication Date: 2015.03.04 KRONES AG

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

The device (12) has a support and/or handling element (20) that is moved along a vertically extending lifting gear column (10), for transporting goods. The supporting and/or handling element is coupled to a movable counterweight portion (22) vertical along the lifting gear column. The counterweight portion is provided with one or more hollow container (30). The hollow container is filled with granule-like ballast material. A lockable lid is provided at hollow container.