Tool-Free Bottle Guide Element Replacement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bottle treatment machines require significant time and personnel costs for changing bottle guide elements to accommodate different bottle dimensions, leading to machine downtime and production interruptions due to the need for tool-assisted screw connection loosening and re-tightening.
Innovation Solution
A guide element system with lockable receptacles and a bolt mechanism allows for easy plug-in connections between neck and star plate elements, enabling secure non-positive fits without tools, allowing for quick exchange and adaptation to new dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screw connections are used to connect partial guide elements, then the connection is secure and adjustable, but tool assistance is required for replacement which increases downtime and personnel costs
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is divided into two separate parts: a first connecting part with a receptacle and a second connecting part with a plug-in side. This segmentation allows the components to be connected and disconnected easily without tools, while maintaining secure connection during operation. The modular design enables quick replacement of guide elements by simply detaching and reattaching the connecting parts.
Solution Approach 2:
A intermediate connecting element with receptacle and plug-in features is introduced between the neck guide element and the exchangeable star plate. This intermediary component facilitates tool-free connection and disconnection while ensuring secure attachment during operation. The intermediate element acts as a mediator that enables both secure connection and easy replacement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If screw connections are used to connect partial guide elements, then the connection is adjustable to different bottle dimensions, but the adjustment process requires tools and increases production interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is segmented into detachable parts with receptacle and plug-in features, allowing the system to be quickly reconfigured for different bottle dimensions without requiring tools. This segmentation enables rapid adaptation while maintaining production continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting parts are pre-designed with integrated receptacle and plug-in features that enable quick assembly and disassembly. The preliminary design of these connection features allows for rapid adaptation to different bottle dimensions without requiring tools or complex adjustment procedures during production.
3Reliability
If the entire bottle guide curve is exchanged for welding connections, then the connection is permanent, but the replacement time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle guide curve is segmented into modular components (neck guide element, exchangeable star plate, and connecting elements) that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows for quick exchange of individual components without requiring welding or permanent attachment, thus reducing replacement time while maintaining connection permanence during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from static permanent welding to dynamic detachable connections that can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The connecting elements with receptacle and plug-in features enable the system to be reconfigured as needed, providing both connection permanence during operation and ease of replacement when required.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a guide element comprising partial guide elements (2, 3) that can be interconnected by means of at least one connecting element (4). In order to provide a guide element that can be very simply replaced in a timesaving manner, particularly a replaceable star plate, the invention proposes that at least one connecting element (4) comprises a first partial connecting element (5) and a second partial connecting element (6), wherein one of the two partial connecting elements (5, 6) comprises a lockable receptacle (7), in which the insertion side (8) of the other partial connecting element (5, 6) corresponding to the receptacle (7) can be inserted, so that the one partial connecting element (5, 6) is locationally securely retained at the other partial connecting element (5, 6) in a force-fit manner when the lockable receptacle (7) is locked.