Aseptic Capping Head with Centring Plugs and Elastic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for applying closures in aseptic environments face challenges such as inaccessible and difficult-to-sterilize sliding zones, increased wear, and reliability issues due to the use of bellows, which can lead to contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A device with centring plugs and elastic means, such as springs, that are slidably inserted into counter-shaped slots in a plate-shaped body, allowing for precise positioning and sterilization of the closure application system, including a blocking system for accessible sterilization treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heating ring slides vertically with respect to the main cylindrical body, then the closure application function is achieved, but the sliding zones become inaccessible and difficult to sterilise
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a fixed portion and a mobile portion that can be separated. The mobile portion containing the heating ring and closure application components can be detached for complete sterilisation, eliminating the problem of inaccessible sliding zones in fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the heating ring slide within a fixed body (creating inaccessible zones), the invention inverts the approach by making the entire closure application head mobile and detachable, allowing all surfaces to be accessed for sterilisation.
2Reliability
If bellows are used to protect critical volume, then contamination is prevented, but reliability decreases due to undetectable breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile portion is completely extracted from the fixed portion, eliminating the need for bellows or flexible connections. This separation allows the mobile portion to be sterilised independently without complex protection systems, while maintaining contamination prevention through controlled access.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile portion can be designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that is sterilised between uses, eliminating the need for complex, expensive bellows systems that require maintenance and reliability monitoring.
3Manufacturing precision
If centring plugs are slidably inserted in slots, then precise positioning is achieved, but sliding zones require sterilisation treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The centring plugs and slots are integrated into the mobile portion as a complete assembly. This segmentation allows the entire assembly with all sliding surfaces to be detached and sterilised together, solving the accessibility problem while maintaining precision functionality.
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 device ensures reliable and sterile closure application in aseptic environments by maintaining the sterility of the sliding zones and preventing contamination, while the blocking system allows for effective sterilization of all components, enhancing the reliability and safety of the closure application process.
Implementation Method 1
The device (1) comprises elastic means (10) interposed between said plate-shaped body (5) and said capping or sealing head (13) for coupling thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for applying a closure on a mouth (30a) of a container (30), comprising: a capping or sealing head (13) bearing the closure; a plate-shaped body (5) elastically coupled to the capping or sealing head (13); a plurality of centring plugs (6) integrally constrained to the capping or sealing head (13) and slidably inserted in a same number of slots (7) afforded in the plate-shaped body (5), each of the centring plugs (6) having a conical end (6a) and the corresponding slot (7) being counter-shaped so as to house the conical end (6a), as the plate-shaped body (5) can shift in such a way that the device (1) passes from a first configuration in which the capping or sealing head (13) is spaced apart from the mouth (30a) and the conical ends (6a) engage the slots (7), to a second configuration in which the capping or sealing head (13) is brought close to the mouth (30a) and the conical ends (6a) at least partly disengage from the slots (7); a blocking system (9) for blocking the reciprocal sliding of the centring plugs (6) with respect to the plate-shaped body (5).