Carrier Puck with Inflatable Bladder for Multi-Size Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carrier pucks require multiple designs and storage for different container sizes and shapes, leading to significant storage costs and downtime during line changes, and fail to provide stable and precise support for articles.
Innovation Solution
A carrier puck system with a deformable element, such as a flange, within an interior chamber that can be pressurized to securely hold articles of various sizes and shapes by reducing the chamber space around the article, using a pressurizing mechanism to ensure accurate and quick location and secure holding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional carrier pucks use a fixed aperture shaped and dimensioned for a specific article type, then the article can be easily placed and removed, but multiple carrier puck designs are required for different container sizes and shapes, leading to significant storage costs and downtime during line changes
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier puck incorporates an inflatable bladder that can dynamically change its volume and shape to adapt to different container sizes and geometries. The bladder transitions from a deflated state during article placement/removal to an inflated state for secure transport, providing both ease of operation and versatility across multiple container types.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier puck changes its internal volume parameter by inflating and deflating the bladder. When deflated, the aperture is larger and more accessible for easy article placement; when inflated, the aperture contracts to securely hold the article, enabling the same puck to handle various container dimensions without requiring multiple fixed designs.
2Ease of operation
If conventional carrier pucks use a loose fit aperture for easy article placement and removal, then the article can be easily inserted, but the article is not supported stably or located precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder dynamically adjusts the aperture size: deflated for easy article insertion and removed, then inflated to provide precise location and stable support during transport. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier puck operates in periodic cycles: deflated state for article handling (placement/removal), then inflated state for secure transport. This periodic transformation between states allows the system to achieve both easy operation and precise positioning at different phases of the operational cycle.
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
Enables the use of a single carrier puck for multiple container sizes and shapes, reducing storage needs and changeover time, while providing stable and precise support without damaging the articles, and preventing rotation during capping.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurizing mechanism for pressurizing a region of the interior chamber, where upon pressurization of said region of the interior chamber, the deformable element is forced to move inwardly of the interior chamber and into contact with a receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier puck comprising a body having an interior chamber, into which a receptacle to be held by the carrier puck can be inserted, the carrier puck comprising a deformable element, disposed at least in part within the interior chamber; and the carrier puck comprising a pressurizing mechanism configured and arranged to facilitate fluid-filling and/or pressurization of a region within the interior chamber, and in dependence upon said pressurization, the deformable element is forced to move inwardly of the interior chamber and into contact with a receptacle for securing the receptacle within the interior chamber of the carrier puck. In this way the available space within the interior chamber for accommodating a receptacle can be reduced about the receptacle, thus securing the receptacle, accurately and quickly in its location within the carrier puck.