Capping Machine Safety Assembly Cam Track Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing virtual cam capping machines face issues with malfunctioning leading to potential impacts and safety risks due to the need for overcoming spring resistance during operation, and existing safety systems generate strong tangential forces and require guiding and anti-rotation functions.
Innovation Solution
A capping machine with a safety assembly that includes a cam and cam follower roller, a first and second stop member, and sensors to detect malfunctioning, ensuring the shaft remains raised and preventing downward translation, eliminating impacts and reducing safety risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a safety cam system is implemented to prevent shaft impact during malfunction, then safety is improved, but strong tangential forces are generated and guiding/anti-rotation uprights are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex guiding and anti-rotation uprights from the safety system by using a cam track integrated into the cam structure itself, which provides both safety functionality and rotational guidance through its geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The cam track serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the safety stop function, guides the rotational movement of the shaft, and eliminates the need for separate uprights, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining safety
2Reliability
If springs are used to maintain raised position of heads, then safety is improved, but spring resistance must be periodically overcome during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the spring-based mechanical safety system with an electronically controlled linear actuator system, eliminating the need to periodically overcome spring resistance while maintaining safety through electronic control and monitoring
3Reliability
If a mechanical cam with roller is used for safety, then shaft raised position is maintained, but impact generates strong tangential forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a cam track as an intermediary element that guides the roller smoothly along a predetermined path, mediating between the roller and cam to eliminate impact and reduce tangential forces while maintaining shaft position control
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 effectively prevents shaft impacts and maintains safety by detecting and preventing anomalous descents, ensuring smooth operation and reducing mechanical stress, while eliminating the need for guiding and anti-rotation uprights.
Implementation Method 1
the cam has at least one track extending over the whole extension of a path run by the head(s) and wherein the safety assembly further includes, on each capping head: a cam follower roller that is arranged to roll in contact with the track
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A capping machine for applying pre-threaded caps to containers comprises one or more capping heads (1) in which a linear actuator (4) and a rotary actuator (5) apply to a shaft (2) a rotary movement about its axis and a translational movement along said axis, and a safety assembly (10) for keeping the shaft (2) of a head raised in case of a malfunctioning of the linear actuator (4). The safety assembly (10) includes a cam (11) and, on each head (1): a cam follower roller (14); a first stop member (16, 17) carried by a first translating assembly (31); and a second stop member (18), which is mounted on a second translating assembly (19) associated with the linear actuator (4) and integral for the translational movement with the shaft (2), and which is arranged to engage the first stop member to stop downward translation of the shaft (2) when the latter attains a limit position indicating a malfunctioning.