Adjustable Clamping Arms for Universal Container Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container conveyor systems require complex and time-consuming changes in clamp stars when switching between glass and PET bottles, as they need to apply different holding forces to prevent damage, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A clamping device with pivotable and displaceable clamp arms and a separate stop element that can be positioned to limit the closing movement, allowing for adjustable holding forces without needing to replace the entire clamping device or star, enabling quick switching between container types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specially adapted star clamps are used for glass bottles to provide greater holding forces, then glass bottles can be securely transported, but the device complexity increases and requires multiple clamp star sets for different container types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal clamping device that can handle both glass bottles and PET bottles using the same clamp star. The clamp star is equipped with adjustable clamping arms that can modify their geometry and holding force characteristics to accommodate different container types, eliminating the need for multiple specialized clamp star sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping device incorporates dynamically adjustable clamping arms that can change their position, angle, and force application points. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same physical clamp star to adapt its characteristics for different container types (glass vs. PET), providing the necessary high holding forces for glass bottles while preventing damage to delicate PET bottles.
2Reliability
If clamp stars are exchanged when changing between glass bottles and PET bottles, then appropriate holding forces can be applied, but the setup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the static, fixed-geometry clamp arms with dynamically adjustable clamping arms. These arms can be reconfigured in-place to change their geometry and force characteristics, allowing rapid adaptation between glass and PET bottle handling without requiring physical replacement of the entire clamp star assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the approach from replacing entire clamp stars to adjusting specific parameters of the clamping arms (position, angle, tension). By modifying these parameters, the system achieves the appropriate holding forces for different container types while maintaining the same physical hardware, thereby dramatically reducing setup time.
3Reliability
If high holding forces are applied to PET bottles, then secure transport is achieved, but the bottles may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different local qualities to different parts of the clamping device when handling different container types. The clamping arms can adjust their contact points, pressure distribution, and force magnitude locally at the bottle contact areas, providing high forces where needed for glass bottles while distributing lower forces over larger contact areas for PET bottles to prevent damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the force parameters applied to the container based on the container type. For PET bottles, the clamping arms adjust to apply lower holding forces with broader contact distribution, while for glass bottles, the same arms can apply higher concentrated forces, thus preventing damage to delicate containers while securely transporting robust ones.
4Reliability
If multiple clamp star sets are maintained for different container types, then appropriate handling is ensured, but the cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a single universal clamp star that can handle multiple container types through adjustable clamping arms, replacing the need for multiple specialized clamp star sets. This reduces manufacturing costs, inventory requirements, and maintenance complexity while maintaining appropriate handling capabilities for both glass and PET bottles.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to a clamping device (10) for holding a container (12) for a container conveyor (64), preferably for a clamping star. The clamping device (10) has a pair of clamping arms (14) for holding the container (12), which are movable relative to each other. The clamping device (10) has a stop element (66) which is formed separately from the pair of clamping arms (14) and can be positioned in a stop position in which the stop element (66) limits a closing movement of the pair of clamping arms (14). Advantageously, the clamping device (10) enables the handling of different types of containers, e.g., glass bottles and PET bottles.