Quick bottle cap opening machine capable of improving cap screwing efficiency

Abstract

The invention discloses a rapid bottle cap opening machine capable of improving the cap screwing efficiency, and relates to the technical field of packaging container opening equipment, in particular to the rapid bottle cap opening machine capable of improving the cap screwing efficiency, which comprises a motor, an output shaft, an outer cover cap and a column body. The outer cover is in interference fit connection with the output shaft through an outer cylinder at the bottom of the cylinder, and the top end of the cylinder is sleeved and fixed through a hollow structure of the outer cover. At least three embedded blades of which the edge parts point to the axis are uniformly distributed on the inner wall of the cylinder in the circumferential direction, and spiral compression springs of which the axes coincide are arranged in the cylinder. During working, the motor drives the cylinder to rotate, the blade is cut into a bottle cap, rapid separation of the bottle cap and a bottle body is achieved, after separation, the spring pops up the bottle cap automatically, and the cap opening efficiency is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of packaging container opening equipment technology, specifically a fast bottle cap opener that improves the efficiency of screwing on caps. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and daily chemical industries, bottled products have become an indispensable part of modern life. Various bottled goods generally use screw-on caps during packaging to ensure sealing and safety. However, opening these caps often becomes a pain point for consumers. Especially for caps with small diameters, tight screw-on mechanisms, or for users with insufficient hand strength (such as the elderly, children, or people with arthritis), traditional manual opening methods are not only time-consuming and laborious but may also lead to opening failures or hand discomfort.

[0003] Currently, common bottle opening methods mainly fall into two categories: manual opening and opening with auxiliary tools. Manual opening relies entirely on the user's grip and wrist strength, resulting in low efficiency and a high risk of slipping when encountering overly tight caps, smooth surfaces, or oily residue, leading to significant user experience deficiencies. To alleviate this problem, some bottle opening aids have emerged on the market, such as rubber pads that increase friction and physical bottle openers designed using leverage principles. These tools reduce the difficulty of opening to some extent, but they still fall under the category of human-powered operation and fail to fundamentally solve the efficiency and ease-of-use issues, especially unsuitable for applications requiring frequent and rapid bottle opening (such as the catering industry and production line quality inspection processes).

[0004] Based on this, electric cap-opening devices have emerged. Existing technologies include some devices that use motors to rotate and open caps. These devices hold the cap in place using a clamping mechanism and then unscrew it using the torque output by the motor. While these devices reduce reliance on manual labor, several significant problems remain in practical applications: First, most devices rely on complex gripper or clamping mechanisms to adapt to caps of different sizes, resulting in complex structures, high costs, and inconvenient maintenance. Second, universal clamping methods are prone to slippage and free-spinning when dealing with caps with smooth surfaces or unusual shapes due to insufficient gripping force, reducing the success rate of opening and potentially damaging the cap's appearance due to continuous friction. Finally, many devices lack an effective cap removal mechanism after opening, requiring manual removal and hindering continuous, automated operation, thus limiting overall efficiency improvements. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fast bottle cap opener that improves the efficiency of cap screwing. Through the coordinated design of blade, spring and motor, the "cut-rotate-eject" operation of opening the bottle cap is realized, which solves the problems of low efficiency, poor compatibility and difficulty in removing the cap of traditional tools.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency, comprising a motor as a power source, with an output shaft at its front end for transmitting torque. An outer cover is fitted to the front end of the output shaft, and a circular groove is machined on the inner side of the outer cover. This groove enables an interference fit connection between the outer cover and the output shaft, ensuring the stability and concentricity of power transmission. A column is fixedly connected to the front end of the outer cover, and this column is the core component for performing the cap opening operation.

[0007] Furthermore, the inner wall of the column is equipped with at least three embedded blades, which are evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner wall of the column to ensure force balance and effective cutting. The cutting angle of the blades is optimized to 15°-30°. This angle range has been tested to minimize resistance when cutting into the bottle cap, while avoiding slippage or over-cutting. The cutting edges of the blades are radially oriented towards the axis of the column, allowing the blades to accurately penetrate the side wall of the bottle cap and form an effective grip when rotating.

[0008] Furthermore, a helical compression spring is installed at the bottom of the inner side of the cylinder. This spring is fixed to the center of the bottom of the cylinder, and its axis coincides with the axis of the cylinder to ensure uniform application of elastic force. The free end of the spring faces the inner cavity of the cylinder in its natural state, for direct contact with the top of the bottle cap. The spring serves two purposes: first, to provide cushioning during the cutting process to accommodate bottle caps of different heights; and second, to automatically eject the bottle cap from the cylinder after separation, achieving unattended cap removal.

[0009] Furthermore, a circular hole is provided at the bottom of the column, and the outer cover is fixed to the top of the column through its hollow structure. This connection method provides axial fixing force to the column, preventing it from falling off during high-speed rotation. The diameter of the inner cavity of the column is adapted to the outer diameter of common bottle caps, ensuring that the embedded blade can effectively contact and cut into the side wall of the bottle cap, making it suitable for bottle caps of various standard sizes.

[0010] Furthermore, during operation, the user places the cylinder over the bottle cap and starts the motor. The output shaft drives the cylinder to rotate at high speed through the outer cover, and the embedded blades inside the cylinder cut into the side wall of the bottle cap at an angle of 15°-30°. Because the blades are evenly distributed circumferentially and their cutting edges point towards the axis, the bottle cap is quickly engaged by multiple blades, achieving slippage-free power transmission. As the motor continues to rotate, the blades drive the entire bottle cap to rotate, thereby unscrewing the threaded connection.

[0011] Furthermore, after the cap separates, the motor continues to run, at which point the cap loses its external constraint. The helical compression spring at the bottom of the column is compressed before the cap separates; once unscrewed, the spring immediately releases its force, pushing the cap upwards and automatically ejecting it from the column through the round hole, completing the entire cap-opening process. This process requires no manual intervention to remove the cap, significantly improving continuous cap-opening efficiency.

[0012] This invention provides a rapid bottle cap opener that improves capping efficiency, and has the following beneficial effects: 1. Compact structure and efficient power transmission: The motor output shaft is connected to the cylinder on the outer side of the center of the bottom of the column by an interference fit, which ensures stable and efficient power transmission from the motor to the actuator (column), reduces energy loss, and provides a reliable power foundation for quick cap tightening.

[0013] Fast and efficient cap opening: Multiple embedded blades evenly distributed around the inner wall of the cylinder rotate at high speed under the drive of a motor, instantly cutting into and biting the bottle cap. The powerful rotational force allows the bottle cap to be unscrewed quickly, significantly improving the opening efficiency, especially suitable for scenarios that require opening large quantities of caps.

[0014] Highly adaptable and anti-slip: The radial blade design pointing towards the axis and the inner cavity adapted to the outer diameter of common bottle caps allow the blade to effectively cut into bottle caps of different sizes and materials, enhancing the biting ability and effectively preventing slippage between the blade and the bottle cap during the opening process.

[0015] High degree of automation and labor saving: The spring mechanism enables automatic pop-out of the bottle cap after separation. After opening, the spring's restoring force automatically pushes the cap out of the cylinder cavity, eliminating the need for manual removal and achieving continuous automated operation, further improving overall efficiency.

[0016] Stable connection and reliable operation: The outer cover is fixed to the top of the column by a sleeve, and the axial buffering effect of the spring ensures the stability and reliability of the entire actuator during operation, preventing the risk of the column falling off or loosening during high-speed rotation.

[0017] Protecting the bottle and its contents: This device acts on the bottle cap by rotating and cutting in, without applying torque to the bottle itself, thus avoiding spillage or damage to the container that may be caused by twisting the bottle. It is especially suitable for bottles that are already filled with liquid. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the outer cover of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] Example 1: An Example Based on Optimized Blade Cutting Angle This embodiment elaborates on a rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 2. Its core lies in the specific optimization of the cutting angle of the embedded blade 21, setting it within the range of 15° to 30°, which serves as a key technical means to improve cap opening efficiency and reduce working resistance.

[0023] In the specific structure of this embodiment, the motor 1 is preferably a high-torque, reversible DC servo motor. The outer cylindrical section 24 at the bottom of the rear end of the column 2 is tightly inserted into the output shaft 11 at the front end of the motor 1 through an interference fit, ensuring that the power can be transmitted without loss and stably. The column 2 is usually made of high-strength engineering plastic or lightweight metal such as aluminum alloy, forming an integral working head. The inner diameter of the column 2 is precisely designed to be slightly smaller than or equal to the outer diameter of common mineral water bottles and beverage bottles, to ensure that the blade can effectively contact and cut into the side wall of the bottle cap.

[0024] The key innovation of this embodiment lies in the angle design of the embedded blade 21. The blade is made of cemented carbide to ensure its sharpness and wear resistance. Its cutting edge points radially towards the axis of the column 2, but not perpendicular or parallel to the axis; instead, it forms an acute angle with it, i.e., the cutting angle. Extensive experimental verification has shown that optimal overall performance is achieved when this angle is precisely controlled between 15° and 30°. Specifically, if the angle is too small, the blade's behavior is closer to "scraping" than "wedging." While the initial contact resistance is low, it is difficult to achieve sufficient engagement depth, and slippage is likely under high torque, leading to wear on the bottle cap surface without effective rotation. Conversely, if the angle is too large, the blade's behavior is closer to "chising." Although it can cut quickly, the axial force and rotational torque required for the initial cut increase dramatically, negatively impacting motor load, battery life, and user experience when using the handheld device. It also makes the bottle cap or blade itself more susceptible to damage due to stress concentration.

[0025] The optimized angle of 15°-30° used in this embodiment perfectly balances the contradiction between "cutting resistance" and "biting ability". When motor 1 starts and drives column 2 to rotate at high speed and press down on the bottle cap, the blade contacts the vertical ridge or threaded protrusion on the side wall of the bottle cap at the optimal wedging angle. The smaller angle component allows the blade to smoothly slide into the tiny gap under the bottle cap, while the larger angle component provides a strong radial biting force, ensuring that the blade can quickly and firmly hold the bottle cap, directly converting its torque into the rotational torque of the bottle cap, greatly reducing ineffective spinning and slippage. This optimization makes the cap opening process smooth and fast, significantly improving capping efficiency, and is especially suitable for automated production lines or applications requiring high-frequency cap opening.

[0026] Example 2: Example based on circumferential uniform distribution of multiple blades This embodiment is a further refinement of the rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 3. The focus is on describing the quantity and distribution of the embedded blades 21, specifically, that there are at least three blades, evenly distributed circumferentially along the inner wall of the column 2. This design aims to solve the problems of uneven force distribution at a single point, easy slippage, and poor adaptability to bottle cap shapes, and is key to achieving stable and reliable cap opening.

[0027] In this embodiment, four identical embedded blades 21 are embedded in the inner wall of the column 2. These four blades are evenly distributed at 90° intervals on the same circumferential cross-section of the inner wall of the column 2. Each blade adopts the 15°-30° cutting angle optimized in the aforementioned embodiment one. This circumferentially uniform distribution layout brings several significant advantages: First, it achieves a balanced distribution of force. When the column 2 is pressed down and rotated, the four blades will simultaneously contact the outer edge of the bottle cap. This allows the radial clamping force and rotational torque applied to the bottle cap to be evenly borne by four points, avoiding excessive force on a single point that could lead to local deformation, crushing, or premature wear of the blades, thus ensuring the smoothness and efficiency of power transmission.

[0028] Secondly, the multi-blade design greatly enhances anti-slip capability. Common bottle caps typically have anti-slip textures or raised structures on the sides, and a single blade might get stuck in the grooves, failing to drive effectively. However, four evenly distributed blades significantly increase the probability that at least one or more blades can accurately engage with the raised or angular areas of the cap. Even if the cap has slight deformation or dimensional tolerances, multiple contact points can collectively form a stable "driving surface," like an invisible wrench firmly gripping the cap, completely eliminating free spin and ensuring a high success rate for every opening action.

[0029] Finally, this design enhances adaptability to non-circular or irregularly shaped bottle caps. While most bottle caps are round, some may have flat surfaces or wavy edges for easy gripping. The evenly distributed multi-blade system ensures that regardless of the cap's orientation, there will always be a blade that can reach its effective driving part, enhancing the device's versatility. Simultaneously, the collaborative work of multiple blades reduces the extreme requirements for the manufacturing and installation precision of each blade, improving product yield and reliability. In summary, this embodiment, through its innovative design of circumferentially evenly distributed multi-blade system, achieves high stability, high success rate, and strong adaptability in the cap-opening process, which is one of the core guarantees for improving overall capping efficiency.

[0030] Example 3: Example based on spring structure and automatic pop-out function This embodiment describes in detail a fast bottle cap opener that improves capping efficiency according to claims 4 and 10. Its core lies in the specific structure and installation method of the spring 22 and its automatic pop-out function achieved in cooperation with the embedded blade 21. This is the key automation link to achieve continuous and efficient cap opening.

[0031] In this embodiment, the spring 22 is specifically selected as a helical compression spring. This spring is precisely fixedly installed at the center of the inner cavity 23 at the bottom of the column 2, with its axis strictly coinciding with the axis of the column 2. This centered installation is crucial, ensuring that the spring force applied is always along the axial direction of the column, preventing eccentric forces that could cause the bottle cap to jam or tilt during ejection. One end of the spring is fixed to the central hole 23 at the bottom of the column 2, while the other end, in its natural state, faces the top of the column 2 and protrudes slightly, being in a pre-compressed or ready-to-trigger state.

[0032] Its workflow and function are as follows: Before opening the cap, the operator aligns the device and presses it down, causing the cap to enter the inner cavity of the cylinder 2. During this process, the top of the cap first contacts and compresses the free end of the spring 22. This action provides two benefits: first, it provides a buffer to avoid hard impact; second, it ensures that the cap is guided to a correct position so that its sidewall can fully contact the rotating embedded blade 21. Subsequently, the motor 1 drives the blade to rotate, cutting into and unscrewing the cap.

[0033] The moment the cap separates from the bottle, the elastic potential energy stored in the previously compressed spring 22 is immediately released. Its free end quickly springs upward, applying a clean and crisp axial thrust to the bottom of the separated cap, ejecting it directly upward into the inner cavity of the cylinder 2. This automatic ejection function is revolutionary: it completely eliminates the step of manually removing the unscrewed cap. On automated production lines, this means the equipment can immediately begin the next cap-opening cycle, significantly improving the work cycle and continuous work efficiency. For users, it also avoids touching potentially unsanitary discarded caps, resulting in a better experience. The spring force is precisely calculated to ensure reliable ejection of various lightweight caps without being too forceful and causing caps to fly off. Therefore, the spring structure in this embodiment is not only a connecting component but also a core functional unit for achieving efficient, automated, and continuous operation.

[0034] Example 4: Example based on interference fit between output shaft and outer cover This embodiment is a specific implementation of a rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 6. The key feature is the interference fit connection between the output shaft 11 and the outer bottom cylinder 24 of the column 2. This seemingly simple mechanical connection is the cornerstone ensuring the reliability of power transmission, structural rigidity, and long-term stability of the entire device.

[0035] Interference fit is a classic mechanical assembly method characterized by a shaft size slightly larger than a hole size. During assembly, it requires processes such as pressing, cold shrinkage, or thermal expansion to achieve a connection, generating significant radial pressure on the contact surfaces and thus sufficient friction to transmit torque and axial force. In this embodiment, the output shaft 11 of the motor 1 is typically made of metal such as steel, and its diameter is precision-machined to a specific tolerance range. The diameter of the outer bottom cylinder 24 of the column 2 is machined to a slightly smaller tolerance range determined based on material strength and torque transmission calculations. During assembly, the outer bottom cylinder 24 of the column 2 is smoothly inserted into the output shaft 11 under pressure until it is fully seated.

[0036] This connection method offers several key advantages: First, high torque transmission capability. During operation, the motor needs to output considerable torque to overcome the static friction between the cap and the bottle neck. The large static friction generated by the interference fit is sufficient to transmit this torque without loss, avoiding the risks of gaps, wear, or shear failure that may exist with key or pin connections. Second, excellent alignment and structural rigidity. The interference fit makes the output shaft 11 and the column 2 function as a single unit, greatly improving the torsional and bending rigidity of the connection. This ensures dynamic balance under high-speed rotation, reduces vibration and noise, guarantees the accuracy and stability of the blade 21, and prevents inaccurate cutting or cap slippage due to wobbling. Third, the outer cylinder 24 and the motor shaft are inserted into the connecting shaft 11 at both ends and secured with screws, simplifying the structure, reducing the number of parts and assembly complexity, and improving production efficiency and reliability. Fourth, good sealing. The tight fit, to a certain extent, prevents dust, liquid, and other contaminants from entering the motor through the connection, extending the motor's service life. Therefore, this embodiment, by employing the mature and reliable interference fit connection technology, lays a solid foundation for the efficient, stable, and long-term operation of the rapid bottle cap opener.

[0037] Example 5: An Example Based on a Holistic Collaborative Workflow This embodiment is a comprehensive implementation method that covers the core features of claims 1, 2, 9, and 10. It aims to fully and coherently describe the entire workflow of the rapid bottle cap opener that improves cap opening efficiency, from startup to completion of cap opening and automatic reset, highlighting how its various components work together to achieve the invention's objective of efficient cap opening.

[0038] The complete working cycle of this device is as follows: First, preparation and positioning: The operator holds the bottle (or the item to be separated), aligns the bottle cap with the inner cavity of column 2, and inserts it. The inner diameter of column 2 is designed according to the outer diameter of common bottle caps, allowing the bottle cap to be easily inserted, serving as a preliminary guide and positioning function. This is the working state of the equipment: the operator holds the item and aligns it with column 2.

[0039] Next, the pressure and cutting action occur. The device applies moderate downward pressure along the bottle cap's axis. During this process, the top of the bottle cap first contacts and compresses the helical compression spring 22 fixed to the center of the bottom of the column 2. Simultaneously, the sidewall of the bottle cap fully enters the inner cavity of the column 2, contacting at least two circumferentially evenly distributed embedded blades 21. At this time, the motor 1 continues to operate, driving the column 2 to rotate at high speed through the interference-fitted output shaft 11 and the outer cover 3. The blades, with their optimized 15°-30° cutting angle, act like miniature wedges, efficiently and with low resistance cutting into the relatively soft sidewall material of the bottle cap and firmly engaging it. The motor's characteristic is continuous operation, eliminating the need for repeated switching for each operating cycle, thus ensuring operational continuity and high efficiency.

[0040] Next, the cap is loosened and released. The torque generated by the continuously running motor 1 is fully transmitted to the cap through the engaged blades, driving the cap to rotate relative to the bottle opening, overcoming the friction between the threads until it is completely loosened. Because the blades are firmly engaged and the motor's power output is smooth and continuous, there is almost no slippage throughout the process, resulting in extremely high power conversion efficiency and achieving "quick" cap opening.

[0041] Finally, the bottle cap pops out and resets. The instant the cap completely separates from the bottle neck, losing the support of the neck, the previously compressed spring 22 quickly rebounds. The axial thrust generated at its free end acts on the bottom of the cap, pushing it upwards and automatically ejecting it from the inner cavity of the cylinder 2. The device then lifts up, spring 22 returns to its natural state, and the blade cavity is empty of the cap, ready for the next opening action. The motor remains running throughout the process; the operator only needs to replace the bottle and perform the "align-press" action again. The entire process is seamless, perfectly integrating the three functions of pressing down, rotating and screwing on the cap, and automatic pop-out. In addition, the continuous working mode of the motor greatly improves the efficiency of continuous and batch cap opening operations, making it particularly suitable for beverage production lines, recycling centers, or busy restaurant kitchens and other occasions that require rapid operations.

[0042] All electrical components mentioned in this article are connected to an external main controller and 220V AC mains power. The main controller can be a conventional known device such as a computer for control. The detailed description of known functions and components is omitted in the specific implementation of this disclosure. To ensure the compatibility of the device, the operating methods used are consistent with the parameters of commercially available instruments.

[0043] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency, comprising a motor (1), characterized in that: The motor (1) has an output shaft (11) at its front end, and a column (2) at its front end. The column (2) is connected to the output shaft (11) via a bottom outer cylinder (24). The top of the column (2) has an outer cover (3), and the bottom of the outer cover (3) has a circular groove (31).

2. The rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the column (2) is provided with an embedded blade (21), the inner side of the outer cover (3) is provided with a spring (22), the inner side of the column (2) is provided with a round hole (23), the bottom end of the column (2) is provided with an outer cylinder (24), the outer cover (3) is fixed to the outer end of the column (2) through its hollow structure, and the cutting angle of the embedded blade (21) is 15°-30° to optimize the resistance when cutting into the bottle cap.

3. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that: The number of the embedded blades (21) is at least 3 and they are evenly distributed along the inner wall of the column (2).

4. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that: The spring (22) is a helical compression spring, fixed at the center of the bottom of the column (2), and its axis coincides with the axis of the column (2).

5. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cutting edge of the embedded blade (21) is radially oriented towards the axis of the column (2).

6. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The output shaft (11) is connected to the outer cylinder (24) of the column (2) by an interference fit.

7. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that: The free end of the spring (22) faces the inner cavity of the column (2) in its natural state, so as to directly contact the target object and make it easy to pop out.

8. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer cover (3) provides axial fixing force by sleeved to the top of the column (2) to prevent the outer cover (3) from falling off during operation.

9. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the column (2) is adapted to the outer diameter of a common bottle cap to ensure that the embedded blade (21) can effectively cut into the bottle cap.

10. A rapid bottle cap opener for improving capping efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The embedded blade (21) is configured to cut into the bottle cap when rotated under the drive of the motor (1), thereby separating the bottle cap from the bottle. The spring (22) is configured to automatically eject the bottle cap from the column (2) after separation.

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