Centring Cone Gripper for Bottle Alignment and Torque Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling systems face challenges in gripping and releasing bottles on conveyor belts due to bottle misalignment caused by conveyor belt movements, vibrations, and defects, which can lead to bumping or dropping, and require separate verification of screw cap removal torque without releasing the bottle.
Innovation Solution
A gripping device with clamps and a centring cone that aligns the bottle by guiding the cap into the cone, allowing for secure gripping and release while maintaining alignment, and optionally measures the removal torque without a dedicated device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grippers are used to grip bottles on the conveyor belt, then the bottles can be transferred to other stations, but the bottles may be bumped or dropped due to misalignment caused by conveyor belt movements and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing preliminary centring and alignment of the bottle within the gripper before the gripping action takes place. The centring cone is positioned to receive and centre the bottle cap in advance, ensuring the bottle is properly aligned with the gripper axis before the clamps engage, thereby preventing bumping or dropping during transfer operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the centring cone - that acts as a mediator between the bottle and the gripper. This cone receives the bottle cap and guides it into proper alignment, serving as an intermediate structure that ensures accurate positioning before the actual gripping occurs, thus improving handling reliability
2Productivity
If ejection devices are used to push containers off the conveyor belt, then the containers can be transferred to other stations, but separate verification of screw cap removal torque requires additional handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the gripping function with the torque measurement function into a single integrated device. The gripper is equipped with a torque sensor that can measure the removal torque of screw caps while the bottle is being held, combining what were previously separate operations (gripping and torque verification) into one unified system, thereby reducing device complexity and improving productivity
3Strength
If clamps engage onto the bottle neck to grip the bottle, then secure gripping is achieved, but the bottle may become misaligned if it was not properly centred beforehand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by centring the bottle in the centring cone before the clamps engage. This preliminary centring action ensures that when the clamps grip the bottle neck, the bottle is already properly aligned with the gripper axis, maintaining alignment precision while achieving secure gripping strength
Data Source
AI summary
A device for gripping containers is provided. The device includes clamps adapted to clamp a container and a centring cone adapted to receive a cap of the container. The centring cone has a longitudinal axis and comprises an inlet mouth, for entrance of the cap, and an inner lateral surface. The inner lateral surface comprises a first, substantially cylindrical portion and a second portion comprised between the first portion and the inlet mouth and diverging outwards in the direction from the first portion to the inlet mouth. The centring cone is a component separate from and independent of the clamps.