Receptacle Transfer Device Using Cam Guide Contour
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for moving receptacles between transport units with different pitches face issues such as superficial scorings on soft materials like plastic and lack of compactness, making them unsuitable for pharmaceutical applications where high product quality and space efficiency are critical.
Innovation Solution
A transferring device with a disc-shaped plate and support bodies that rotate to align with different pitch positions, using a guide contour and cam mechanism to change pitch without radial displacement, ensuring smooth movement and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a helicoidal groove transferring device is used to transfer receptacles between transport units with different pitches, then the pitch change is achieved, but superficial scorings are caused on soft material receptacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary transferring device positioned between two transport units with different pitches. This device includes a rotating plate with support bodies that temporarily hold receptacles during the pitch transition, eliminating direct contact between the receptacle and the pitch-change mechanism that causes scorings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional helicoidal groove mechanical system with a different mechanism using a rotating plate and support bodies. Instead of relying on the receptacle sliding along a helicoidal groove (which causes friction and scorings), the system uses discrete support bodies to carry receptacles through the pitch transition, substituting continuous mechanical contact with a more gentle transfer method.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a wheel with radially-sliding arms is used to transfer receptacles, then no scorings are caused on receptacles, but the device size increases affecting compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transferring device into discrete, modular components: a rotating plate with multiple support bodies arranged around its perimeter. Each support body is independently positioned to align with receptacles during transfer. This segmentation allows for a more compact arrangement compared to continuous radial arms, as the support bodies can be tightly packed around the plate's circumference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a radial arrangement (two-dimensional expansion from the rotation axis) to a circumferential arrangement of support bodies on the rotating plate. By organizing support bodies around the plate's perimeter rather than extending radially outward, the device achieves the same functional result (receptacle transfer with pitch change) with reduced overall dimensions, improving compactness while maintaining the no-scoring advantage.
3Volume of moving object
If the groove radius is reduced for compactness, then device size decreases, but sliding precision of cams is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cam mechanism from the traditional radial arm configuration and repositions it within the rotating plate structure. The cam profiles are now defined on the plate itself rather than on extended radial arms, allowing for reduced radius while maintaining sufficient cam stroke and sliding precision. This extraction and repositioning enables compactness without sacrificing the precision needed for accurate receptacle transfer.
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
The solution prevents scratching of receptacles and allows for compact machine design, suitable for pharmaceutical applications, while facilitating easy assembly and maintenance by allowing the transferring device to be easily coupled and decoupled from the machine.
Implementation Method 1
Each support body (3) is provided with a cam (5) that is slidingly engaged by a guide contour (21) rigidly connected to the support structure (14) and developing like an eccentric ring around the first rotation axis (X1). As a consequence, the change in radius of the different groove portions during the rotation of the wheel causes a corresponding radial displacement of the cam and, hence a corresponding radial slide of the housing that, in turn, changes the pitch between two consecutive housings
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Transferring device (1; 1') for the transport of receptacles (35) between two transport units (15, 16), comprising: a first plate (2) to be rotatably associated to a support structure (14) for rotation around a first rotation axis (X1); support bodies (3), each support body (3) being configured to removably support a receptacle (35) and being movably connected to the first plate (2) through a drive unit (4) which defines, for the support body (3), a predefined trajectory (8) lying on a reference plane perpendicular to the first rotation axis (X1) and developing between two ends (8a, 8b) that are, respectively, closer to and farther from the first rotation axis (X1); a cam (5) rigidly connected to each support body (3) to slide on a guide contour (21) rigidly connected to said support structure (14) to cause a movement of the support body (3) according to the predefined trajectory (8) following a change in radius between two portions (21a, 21b) of the guide contour (21) with which the cam (5) cooperates during a corresponding rotation of the first plate (2) relative to the support structure (14). The support body (3) and the cam (5) are arranged on mutually opposite sides with respect to the first plate (2) according to the direction of the first rotation axis (X1) and are rigidly connected to one another through a connection body (6) movably housed in a through slot (7) of the first plate (2).