Adjustable L-Shaped Lock Lever for Beverage Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed automated beverage filling machines face challenges in accurately positioning cans due to thinner materials and necked-down can designs, leading to damage, leakage, and inefficiencies in filling processes, with existing lock lever systems requiring labor-intensive adjustments and lacking simple replacement solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing L-shaped lock levers with adjustable dimensions and color-coded kits to simplify initial installation and maintenance, allowing for precise adjustment and replacement without measuring each station, and incorporating a blending radius to prevent platform over-travel during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional lock levers are used in high-speed automated beverage filling machines, then cans can be filled at high speed, but the cans may be damaged due to inaccurate positioning relative to the filling valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by providing lock levers with different engagement surface heights (different dimensional parameters) to compensate for variations in platform positioning. Multiple lock lever variants with heights of 0.625 inches, 0.687 inches, 0.750 inches, 0.812 inches, and 0.875 inches are provided to match different platform height variations, thereby maintaining accurate can positioning relative to the filling valve while enabling high-speed operation
2Manufacturing precision
If shims are added or subtracted under bowl stanchions to adjust platform height, then positioning accuracy may be improved at specific points, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-manufacturing lock levers with different engagement surface heights to account for expected platform height variations. Instead of adjusting during setup, the appropriate lock lever is selected in advance based on the platform's actual height, eliminating the time-consuming iterative process of adding and removing shims while maintaining positioning accuracy
3Ease of repair
If lock levers are replaced during maintenance, then machine repairs can be performed, but accurate repositioning becomes difficult without original adjustment information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by color-coding lock levers according to their engagement surface height (e.g., green for 0.625 inches, yellow for 0.687 inches, blue for 0.750 inches, red for 0.812 inches, white for 0.875 inches). This visual identification system allows maintenance personnel to quickly select the correct replacement lock lever without needing to remember or measure original adjustments, ensuring accurate repositioning is maintained while simplifying the repair process
4Device complexity
If the lock lever engagement surface is positioned at a fixed height, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate variations in platform height or wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by providing a family of lock levers that can universally fit different platform height variations. Instead of designing a complex adjustable mechanism, the system uses multiple simple lock lever variants with different engagement surface heights, allowing the same basic lock lever design to serve multiple positioning requirements and accommodate wear over time
Data Source
AI summary
A method for installing lock levers for a beverage filling machine includes supplying a plurality of lock levers, including a plurality of regular size lock levers with a first dimension associated with the height of an engagement surface relative to the axis of rotation of the lever, and at least one other lock lever having a second dimension for the height such that the second dimension is reduced or increased relative to the first dimension, installing a plurality of regular size lock levers on the beverage filling machine, determining if the engagement surface of any of the regular size lock levers is not positioned at a predetermined position and thereby non-conforming, then installing at the location of any non-conforming regular size lock lever one of the at least one other lock lever having a second dimension to position the engagement surface thereof substantially at the predetermined position.