Container Handling Device Centring Element Clamping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling devices face issues with undesirable contact or collisions between holding devices and container receptacles when empty spaces occur in the container flow, leading to wear and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment device with a rotating conveyor system featuring a movement mechanism for the centering element that performs multi-stage clamping, allowing the centering element to engage the container mouth with varying contact pressures, preventing collisions by maintaining a secure spacing from the holding device during empty spaces in the container flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the centering element is clamped with full contact pressure in the transfer area, then the container is securely fixed, but contact or collision between the holding device and container receptacle occurs when empty spaces are present
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping action is segmented into two distinct phases: a first partial stroke in the transfer area with reduced contact pressure, and a second partial stroke after leaving the transfer area with full contact pressure. This segmentation allows the system to achieve secure container fixation while avoiding harmful contacts during the transfer operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact pressure of the centering element is made dynamic rather than static. The movement mechanism adjusts the contact pressure according to the operational phase: lower pressure during transfer to avoid collisions, and higher pressure afterward to ensure secure fixation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between secure fixation and collision avoidance.
2Reliability
If the centering element maintains constant contact pressure, then the container is securely clamped, but wear increases due to unnecessary contact during empty spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping operation is divided into two temporal segments: a first partial stroke during the transfer area with minimal contact, and a second partial stroke after transfer with full contact pressure. This segmentation ensures that the centering element only exerts full clamping force when necessary, reducing cumulative wear on components while maintaining reliable container clamping throughout the operational cycle.
3Strength
If the centering element performs a single full stroke, then the container is firmly clamped, but the holding device may collide with the container receptacle during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The single full stroke is segmented into two sequential partial strokes. The first partial stroke occurs during the transfer area with reduced contact pressure, ensuring operational safety by preventing collisions. The second partial stroke occurs after leaving the transfer area with full contact pressure, ensuring adequate clamping force. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between strong clamping and operational safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The first partial stroke serves as a preliminary action that prepares the container for secure clamping without applying full force yet. This preliminary engagement allows the holding device to safely release the container during transfer, after which the second partial stroke applies the full clamping force needed for firm fixation, thus preventing collisions while ensuring strong clamping.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A container handling device comprises a first rotating conveying means with container receptacles (2.1) and a second rotating conveying means with holding means (6, 6'), wherein the container receptacles (2.1) and the holding means (6, 6') of the conveying means interact in meshing engagement with one another in a transfer region (ÜB). The container receptacle (2.1) is designed to fix the container (B) at least temporarily in the mouth region (MB) so as to be clamped between a centring element (4) and a counterbearing (5) interacting with the centring element (4), wherein the centring element (4) is movable relative to the counterbearing (5) in order to bring about clamping of the container (B). A movement mechanism (10) for the centring element (4) is designed to bring the centring element (4) to bear against the container mouth in the transfer region (ÜB) by a first partial stroke (TH1) and, after leaving the transfer region (ÜB), to press the centring element (4) with respect to the container mouth by a second partial stroke (TH2), wherein the contact pressure after leaving the transfer region (ÜB) is greater than in the transfer region (ÜB).