Bottle Capping Apparatus Single Supply Channel Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bottle capping apparatuses require multiple supply channels, receiving and positioning arms, and pusher organs for each bottle, leading to increased complexity and maintenance, especially when capping multiple bottles simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A capping apparatus with a single supply channel that uses hooking-receiving-stabilizing organs to guide and insert caps into bottles, featuring a pick-up organ that hooks and positions caps axially within the bottle inlet mouths, allowing for adaptable operation on both intermittent and continuous machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple supply channels, receiving and positioning arms, and pusher organs are used for each bottle, then multiple bottles can be capped simultaneously, but the device complexity and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of bottles capped simultaneouslyVSAvoidnumber of supply channels and positioning organs

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single supply channel is designed to serve multiple bottles simultaneously by positioning caps along its length, allowing one channel to perform the function previously requiring multiple separate channels. The receiving and positioning arm also serves multiple bottles by accommodating multiple caps in sequence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple separate components (supply channels, receiving arms, pusher organs) are merged into integrated assemblies where a single supply channel works in coordination with a single receiving and positioning arm to service multiple bottles, reducing the total number of independent components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple receiving and positioning arms are used for each bottle, then each bottle can be capped independently, but the maintenance requirements and functional complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent bottle capping capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance of cap positioning devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

A single receiving and positioning arm is designed to handle multiple caps for multiple bottles, making it a universal component that replaces multiple dedicated arms. This reduces the number of components that require maintenance while maintaining the ability to cap multiple bottles independently through the transporter's step-activated mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the apparatus is designed for a specific number of bottles, then it can efficiently cap that number, but it requires intervention when the operating step changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapping efficiency for specific batch sizeVSAvoidadaptability to different operating steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus is designed with dynamic capabilities where the single supply channel and receiving arm can adapt to different operating steps. The transporter's step-activated mechanism allows the same apparatus to efficiently handle different numbers of bottles by adjusting the timing and sequence of cap delivery and bottle positioning, without requiring physical intervention or reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Simplifies the capping process by using a single supply channel to position caps on multiple bottles, reducing complexity and maintenance, and enabling adaptable operation across different machine operating steps and types.

Implementation Method 1

a head cap of the row of caps being held elastically by a lower end of the supply channel in order to position an internal surface of a relative head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7735297B2Apparatus for capping bottles and a method for realising the cap

Publication Date: 2010.06.15 MARCHESINI GROUP SPA

AI summary

An apparatus for capping bottles, comprising: gripping devices for bottles containing products, constrained to a transporter, each of which gripping devices exhibits on a side thereof a gripping means of a corresponding bottle, and on an opposite side thereof hooking-receiving-stabilizing organ of a cap; at least a channel for supplying caps, arranged superiorly of the transporter upstream of a capping zone overlying the hooking-receiving-stabilizing organs transiting below the channel, into which a row of caps is conveyed, a head cap of the row of caps being held elastically by a lower end of the supply channel in order to position an internal surface of a relative head such as to intercept a front head (96a) of an underlying hooking-receiving-stabilizing organ in order to enable the head cap, in combination with the advancing of the transporter and with the striking and guiding action exerted by the supply channel, to disengage from the supply channel in order to locate in the corresponding hooking-receiving-stabilizing organ, with the relative body facing downwards; at least a pick-up organ, located in the capping zone, operating in phase relation with a corresponding hooking-receiving-stabilizing organ, with the body thereof facing downwards; at least a pick-up organ destined to hook and extract the cap present therein, and to position the cap axially in an inlet mouth of the corresponding bottle supported by the gripping device flanking the hooking-receiving-stabilizing organ, in order to perform insertion of the body of the cap in the mouth of the bottle in order to close the bottle.