Hermetically Sealed Capping Machine Drive Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage bottling plants face challenges in maintaining cleaning efficiency, safety, and reliability, particularly in cold aseptic bottling, due to complex designs and large clean spaces that require extensive maintenance and are prone to contamination during disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A closing machine with a hermetically sealed mounting space that encapsulates drive motors and actuator components, allowing for easy maintenance and reduced downtime, featuring non-continuous screw head rotation and plug-in connections for electrical components, and a compact clean chamber design that minimizes the volume of the clean space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hermetically sealed mounting space is provided to protect drive motors and actuator components, then reliability and ease of cleaning are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closing machine is divided into a clean side and a non-clean side by the hermetically sealed mounting space. Drive motors and actuator components are segregated into the non-clean side, while only essential screwing components remain on the clean side. This segmentation allows differential cleaning requirements and protects sensitive components from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed mounting space acts as an intermediary barrier between the clean brewing environment and the non-clean drive mechanisms. This intermediate structure enables protected components to operate in a controlled environment while still performing their function of driving the screw heads.
2Ease of operation
If drive motors are located in a hermetically sealed mounting space on the non-clean side, then ease of cleaning is improved, but accessibility for maintenance may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting space is designed with movable or accessible elements that allow maintenance personnel to reach drive motors and actuator components when needed. The hermetic seal can be temporarily opened or access ports provided that maintain the overall sealed structure during operation, enabling dynamic access for maintenance while preserving the clean barrier during brewing.
3Productivity
If screw heads are driven in rotation only when containers are ready for immediate closing, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The screw heads rotate intermittently rather than continuously - they are driven in rotation only when containers are ready for immediate closing. This periodic action is controlled by sensors that detect container presence and readiness, activating the drive mechanism only at appropriate moments to optimize productivity while avoiding unnecessary rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses feedback from sensors monitoring container position and readiness status to determine when to activate screw head rotation. This feedback mechanism ensures screw heads are driven only when containers are ready, optimizing the timing of the screwing operation to improve productivity without wasteful continuous operation.
4Loss of substance
If the clean chamber volume is minimized, then loss of substance is reduced, but ease of operation for maintenance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The clean chamber is segmented and minimized to only the essential brewing area, while drive motors and non-essential components are relocated to the non-clean side or external areas. This segmentation reduces the volume of clean space requiring cleaning agents while maintaining accessibility to components through strategic placement in non-clean zones.
Data Source
AI summary
Rotatable bottle or container capping machine for screwing threaded screw caps onto a threaded mouth portion of filled bottles or containers to close filled bottles or containers, and a method of operation thereof. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.