Adjustable Chuck Abutment for Preform Neck Length Variations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In bottle manufacturing plants, existing chucks require frequent replacement when switching between preforms with different neck lengths, leading to production downtime due to changes in neck height or diameter, disrupting the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A chuck design with a shaped portion that maintains a constant distance between the neck/chuck abutment and the 'zero neck ring' plane, allowing it to accommodate preforms with varying neck lengths by using a circumferential step that abuts against a complementary step on the chuck, ensuring consistent gripping and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a chuck is designed with a fixed abutment position for a specific neck length, then the gripping precision is improved, but the adaptability to different preform formats deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck incorporates a telescopic structure where the abutment element can be nested within the chuck body and adjusted to different positions. This nested design allows the abutment to be repositioned along the axial direction to match different neck lengths while maintaining precise gripping contact, thus resolving the contradiction between fixed precision and variable adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The chuck transitions from a static fixed abutment design to a dynamic adjustable abutment system. The abutment element can be moved axially to different positions depending on the preform neck length, enabling the chuck to adapt dynamically to various formats while maintaining optimal gripping precision for each specific configuration
2Manufacturing precision
If chucks are replaced when preform neck dimensions change, then the gripping accuracy is maintained, but the production downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck is designed with universal adaptability through its telescopic abutment mechanism, allowing a single chuck to perform multiple functions across different preform formats. The abutment can be adjusted to different positions to accommodate various neck lengths, eliminating the need for multiple specialized chucks and reducing replacement time while maintaining gripping accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The chuck utilizes parameter adjustment of the abutment position along the axial direction to adapt to different preform neck lengths. By changing the position parameter of the abutment rather than replacing the entire chuck, the system maintains gripping accuracy while minimizing production downtime associated with chuck changes
3Ease of operation
If the chuck structure is simplified for easy replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chuck is segmented into modular components including the chuck body and a separately adjustable abutment element. This segmentation allows the abutment to be independently adjusted or replaced without affecting the entire chuck structure, facilitating easy operation while maintaining positioning precision through the specialized abutment design that ensures accurate contact with the preform neck
Data Source
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AI summary
A gripping device for supporting preforms made of a thermoplastic material, having necks with a different length, such necks having, in turn, a step obtained therein which may abut against a step obtained on the outer surface of the gripping device, i.e., the chuck, such a step of the chuck being located, for each preform, always at the same distance from the neck ring base.