Adjustable Discharge Star for Fast Container Format Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional can sealing apparatuses require time-consuming and complicated changes of discharge curves and stars to accommodate different container formats, leading to prolonged standstill times.
Innovation Solution
A discharge apparatus with a rotatable discharge star and a radially displaceable discharge device that defines a curved recess, allowing for adjustment to different container sizes without exchanging the discharge device, coupled with adaptable discharge rails to prevent tilting and adjust the discharge track width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the discharge curve and discharge star are exchanged to accommodate different container formats, then the apparatus can process different container sizes, but the tool change process is time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge device is made radially displaceable relative to the discharge star, allowing the discharge curve to be adjusted to different radial positions. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the same discharge device to accommodate various container formats without physical exchange, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and time loss by making the system configurable rather than requiring tool changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge device is designed with multi-functionality by enabling it to serve multiple container formats through radial displacement. Instead of having separate discharge curves and stars for different formats, a single universal discharge device can be positioned radially to match different container sizes, eliminating the need for exchanges while maintaining versatility.
2Loss of time
If the discharge device is made radially displaceable to avoid tool exchange, then standstill time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge apparatus is segmented into distinct functional components: the discharge star (for rotation and carrier transport) and the radially displaceable discharge device (for defining the discharge curve). This segmentation allows the discharge device to be independently adjusted radially without affecting the discharge star's rotational function, reducing the overall complexity compared to a fully integrated exchangeable assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the discharge edge is positioned in the region of the container conveyor, then containers can be received from the processing station, but the radial position must be adjusted for different container sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge device's radial displacability provides dynamic positioning capability, allowing the discharge edge to be moved radially to match different container sizes while maintaining its functional position relative to the container conveyor. This dynamic adjustment enables both ease of operation for container reception and adaptability for various container formats.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a processing station with a container conveyor, a discharge apparatus including a discharge star with a carrier for transporting the containers, a discharge device arranged around the discharge star and defining a discharge curve for guiding the containers, a container inlet arranged at an end of the discharge device for receiving the containers, and a container outlet arranged at a second end of the discharge device for discharging the containers. The discharge device includes a discharge edge at the first end arranged in a region of the container conveyor such that, in the operating state, the container is received by the discharge edge into the container inlet, and the discharge star is rotatable such that the container is transported by the carrier on a guideway delimited by the discharge curve and the discharge star from the container inlet to the container outlet.