Active Neck Clamp for Container Transfer Level Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling machines face challenges in maintaining proper transfer levels during container manipulation, especially with lighter and unstable containers, leading to deformation and improper transfer, requiring complex mechanical lifting units and additional fittings.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an active neck clamp that secures and adjusts containers to a predetermined transfer level, eliminating the need for complex mechanical lifting units and inlet fittings, and allowing for reliable handling regardless of container stability, using a centering element and neck clamp system that synchronizes with the container's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vertically adjustable container plate with a complex mechanical lifting unit is used to ensure clean transfer from infeed star wheel to labeling carousel, then transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active neck clamp mechanism from the complex mechanical lifting unit, allowing the neck clamp to independently adjust and maintain container neck position at the predetermined transfer level without requiring the entire container plate to be vertically adjustable. This separates the neck positioning function from the overall platform positioning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The neck clamp is designed with active adjustment capability, allowing it to dynamically adapt to container deformations by moving independently to maintain the container neck at the correct transfer level. This dynamic adjustment replaces the need for complex mechanical lifting units that would require coordinated movement of multiple components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compressed air is used to stabilize lightweight containers during handling, then container stability is improved, but container deformation may still occur leading to improper transfer level
Solution Approach 1:
The active neck clamp performs preliminary positioning of the container neck at the predetermined transfer level before the container enters the outfeed star wheel. This preliminary action ensures that even if container body deformation occurs during handling, the neck position is pre-adjusted to the correct transfer level for smooth transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The neck clamp system incorporates feedback through its active adjustment mechanism that continuously monitors and corrects container neck position relative to the predetermined transfer level. This feedback loop compensates for container deformations by actively repositioning the neck clamp to maintain accurate transfer level alignment.
3Ease of operation
If the container neck is not at the predetermined transfer level relative to the outfeed star wheel, then transfer function fails, but complex mechanical lifting units are required to ensure proper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the complex mechanical lifting unit and assigns it to the active neck clamp, which independently adjusts and maintains the container neck at the predetermined transfer level. This extraction simplifies the overall system by removing the need for complex vertical adjustment mechanisms on the container plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The active neck clamp provides localized positioning control specifically at the container neck area, rather than requiring global adjustment of the entire container plate. This local quality approach ensures precise transfer level positioning for the critical neck region without the complexity of adjusting the entire platform.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a container treatment machine, comprising at least one assembly (B) for neck handling manipulation of a container (1), a centering head (5) having a centering element (3) that is linearly adjustable between a passive position and a tensioning position. Parallel to the centering element (3), a neck clip (2) that is adjustable from a transfer level (N) for holding the container neck is provided, which can be carried along by the centering element (3) at least as far as the tensioning position, and with displacement of the centering element (3) into the passive position, is resettable with the container (1) to the transfer level (N).