Capping Device Cap Cleaning Nozzle for Spill Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional capping devices for beverage containers face issues with content spillage during high-speed conveyance, leading to contamination of caps and neck portions, which complicates cap opening and affects product quality due to air exposure.

Innovation Solution

A capping device equipped with a cap cleaning nozzle that sprays a cleaning liquid onto the inner side of the cap and neck portion cleaning nozzles that spray cleaning liquid onto the container's neck portion, positioned upstream of the cap attachment point, to remove and dilute spilled content, preventing contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the container is conveyed at a high rate to process a large number of containers in a short period of time, then productivity is improved, but the content may spill from the container due to vibration, contaminating the inner side of the cap and the outer side of the neck portion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidcontent spillage and contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cap cleaning nozzle sprays cleaning liquid onto the inner side of the cap before the cap is attached to the container. This preliminary cleaning action removes spilled content from the cap's inner surface, preventing contamination before it occurs during the capping process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Cleaning liquid is introduced as an intermediary substance between the spilled content and the cap's inner surface. The cleaning liquid captures and removes the spilled content through washing action, preventing direct contact between the content and the cap

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the cap is attached to the container in the state where the inner side of the cap or the outer side of the neck portion is contaminated with content, then the capping process is simplified, but the content remains between the cap and neck portion, leading to difficulty in opening the cap and deterioration of content quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapping process complexityVSAvoidcap opening ease and content quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the cap's inner side before the cap is attached to the container. This preliminary cleaning ensures that no spilled content remains on the cap's inner surface, preventing content entrapment between the cap and container neck

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning liquid, which comes into contact with spilled content during high-speed conveyance, is used beneficially to wash and remove the spilled content from the cap's inner surface, converting the harmful spillage into an opportunity for cleaning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Effectively removes and dilutes spilled content from caps and neck portions, ensuring easier cap opening and maintaining product quality by preventing air exposure and contamination.

Implementation Method 1

a cap cleaning nozzle that sprays a cleaning liquid onto an inner side of the cap held by the capping head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid spray: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3907173A1Capping device
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 SHIBUYA IND CO LTD
  • EP3907173A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3907173A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3907173A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A content contaminating an inner side of a cap and an outer side of a neck portion of a container caused by spill of the content during conveyance is enabled to be removed as much as possible. The present invention relates to a capping device 6 comprising: a second rotary member R2 (conveying means) that conveys a container 2 filled with a liquid content; and a capping head 11 that moves in synchronization with the container 2 being conveyed by the second rotary member R2 while holding a cap 5 above the container 2. A cap cleaning nozzle 31 that sprays a cleaning liquid onto an inner side of the cap 5 held by the capping head 11 is provided on a moving trajectory of the container 2 conveyed by the second rotary member R2, on an upstream side of an attachment position of the cap 5 by the capping head 11. The cap cleaning nozzle 31 sprays the cleaning liquid onto the inner side of the cap 5, and subsequently the capping head 11 attaches the cap 5 to the container 2.