Bottle Neck Clip With Embedded Magnets For Uniform Holding Force
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamp designs for gripping bottlenecks, particularly PET bottles, face challenges in achieving uniform holding forces across different diameters and fail to meet hygiene requirements due to the use of spring elements and positioning of permanent magnets.
Innovation Solution
The clamp arms are equipped with a clamp bracket allowing elastic expansion and springback between the permanent magnet receptacle and the pivot axis, with permanent magnets embedded in the plastic, enabling a one-piece plastic design that is easy to clean and manufacture, and featuring interchangeable magnet frames for adjustable holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If permanent magnets are positioned between the gripping area and pivot axes to support opening force, then the opening force is improved, but the device complexity increases due to complex magnet positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into functional segments: permanent magnets are positioned in specific receptacles within the clamp arms, separated from the gripping area. This segmentation allows the magnets to be positioned optimally for generating opening force without interfering with the gripping function, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Magnetic receptacles serve as intermediary structures that hold the permanent magnets at precise positions. These receptacles mediate between the magnets and the clamp arms, ensuring proper positioning and orientation of the magnets to generate the required opening force without direct attachment to the gripping surfaces.
2Force
If spring elements are used to hold closing force in closed position, then the closing force is improved, but the hygiene requirements are not met due to contamination risk from spring elements
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical spring element system is replaced with a magnetic field-based system. Permanent magnets positioned in specific receptacles generate magnetic forces that provide both closing and opening forces, eliminating the need for spring elements and associated hygiene contamination risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The force generation mechanism changes from mechanical (springs) to magnetic (permanent magnets). By changing the physical parameter of force generation, the system achieves the required closing force while eliminating components that pose hygiene risks in bottling plant environments.
3Ease of manufacture
If clamp arms are made as separate components for assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the cleanability is reduced due to multiple assembly joints and crevices
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate components (clamp arms, magnet receptacles, pivot axis bearings, gripping areas) are merged into a single integrated plastic element. This one-piece construction eliminates assembly joints and crevices that would trap contaminants, significantly improving cleanability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding or similar processes.
4Ease of operation
If the clamp is designed as a one-piece plastic element, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the adaptability to different bottle neck diameters is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp arms are designed with pivotability about horizontal axes, introducing dynamic movement capability to the otherwise rigid one-piece structure. This allows the clamp to adapt its opening width to accommodate different bottle neck diameters while maintaining the cleanability benefits of the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the clamp (opening width, arm angle) can be dynamically changed through pivoting motion. This parameter variability enables the same one-piece clamp design to accommodate a range of bottle neck diameters, maintaining versatility without compromising cleanability.
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
This configuration provides a consistent and sufficient holding force for various bottle neck diameters while ensuring easy cleanability and simplicity in manufacturing and replacement, effectively addressing the hygiene and adaptability issues of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
permanent magnets embedded, in particular cast, in the plastic of the clamp arms
Implementation Method 2
permanent magnets are positioned between the gripping area of the clamps and the pivot axes to support the opening force
Implementation Method 3
the clamp arms are equipped with a clamp bracket that enables elastic expansion and springback
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a clip (1) for capturing bottle necks, particularly of PET bottles, in bottle-filling systems, wherein the clip arms can pivot in the horizontal plane, wherein a simple design allows retaining forces that are as equal as possible for bottle necks of different diameter. The aim is achieved in that both clip arms (1a, 1b) are made of plastic and comprise receptacles (6) for permanent magnets (7) between the gripping area (8) and the pivot axis (3), said magnets exerting on each other a force closing the clip (1) into the usable position.