Variable Stroke Push Arm for Ergonomic Goods Grouping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for grouping and packaging piece goods on a packing table lead to operator fatigue and safety risks due to the need for quick and ergonomic handling of groups in a limited buffer zone, with potential collisions from moving machine components.
Innovation Solution
A method where the push arm's stroke is variably adjusted to position groups conveniently for the operator, allowing for ergonomic handling and safety by ensuring the oldest group is always in a target position, even if the second collection zone is not fully occupied, and enabling alternating shifts into two collection areas for efficient storage and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the second collection zone is used to store multiple groups of goods, then the buffer time and storage capacity are improved, but the operator must reach awkwardly far over the table to access groups, leading to rapid fatigue and health problems
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher arm is made movable along the longitudinal axis of the packing table, allowing dynamic repositioning of groups to optimize accessibility. The pusher arm can be positioned at different locations depending on which groups need to be accessed, transforming a static storage arrangement into a dynamic one that adapts to operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The pusher arm serves as an intermediary mechanism that automatically moves groups between different positions in the second collection zone. This eliminates the need for the operator to manually reach awkwardly for distant groups, as the pusher arm performs the transportation function, leaving the operator to only perform the simple task of picking up groups from accessible positions.
2Productivity
If the operator works quickly to keep up with production speed, then productivity is improved, but the operator enters the working path of the push arm, endangering safety
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher arm acts as an intermediary that handles the time-critical task of moving groups quickly, allowing the operator to work at a safer, more relaxed pace. The pusher arm's rapid movement capability handles the productivity requirement, while the operator's role is reduced to slower, safer actions of picking up and placing groups in outer packaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed so that the pusher arm serves itself by automatically repositioning groups without operator intervention during the movement process. This self-service capability eliminates the need for the operator to be in close proximity during push arm operations, removing the safety hazard while maintaining high productivity.
3Device complexity
If a fixed stroke is used to move groups, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operator cannot easily access groups when the collection zone is not full
Solution Approach 1:
The stroke length of the pusher arm is made variable rather than fixed, allowing adjustment based on the fill level of the second collection zone and the positions of existing groups. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different operational states, optimizing group accessibility while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for the chronological grouping of individual goods (K), wherein the formed groups are successively moved from a first (1) to a second collection zone (2) such that an oldest group is always moved to a target position (Ymax) defined in the second collection zone.