Container Closing Apparatus with Inspection and Reclosure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for closing containers with plugs often result in defective articles due to errors during the plugging or closing process, leading to increased rejection rates and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method featuring a continuous transport wheel with a closing device and inspection system that allows for the identification and re-closure of incorrectly closed containers, utilizing a feed device for batch feeding and a discharge device for selective container handling, enabling continuous operation and minimizing defective products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single plug insertion station is used for economic reasons, then device complexity is reduced, but defective articles increase due to errors during plugging or closing
Solution Approach 1:
The closing system is divided into multiple independent closing stations (first closing station and second closing station) arranged along the transport wheel. Each station can independently close containers, allowing parallel processing while maintaining system reliability. If an error occurs at one station, other stations can continue operating or correct the error.
Solution Approach 2:
An inspection device is integrated into the system to detect incorrectly closed containers. When a defect is detected, the system provides feedback by activating a discharge device to redirect the defective container to a re-closing station, enabling automatic correction without stopping the entire production line.
2Manufacturing precision
If containers are rejected as defective articles when an error occurs, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but loss of substance increases due to wastage of already filled containers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding (rejecting) containers with closing errors, the system recovers them by redirecting to a re-closing station through the discharge device. The inspection device identifies defective containers, and the discharge device routes them to the first closing station for correction, allowing the container to be recovered and reused.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of closing errors into a beneficial outcome by implementing a re-closing mechanism. Defective containers are automatically identified and redirected for correction, transforming what would be waste into recoverable product, thereby converting the harm of errors into an opportunity for quality improvement.
3Productivity
If the transport wheel rotates continuously at constant speed, then productivity is improved, but the ability to handle errors and perform re-closing operations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The transport wheel system incorporates dynamic elements including variable speed control and synchronized actuation. The discharge device and closing devices can be actuated at specific positions during the rotation cycle, allowing the system to adapt its operation based on the detected defect location while maintaining continuous rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection device continuously monitors containers during transport and identifies defects in advance. When a defect is detected, the system preliminarily determines the corrective action needed and prepares the discharge device to redirect the container to the appropriate closing station before the container completes its rotation, enabling seamless error handling during continuous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for closing containers with closures is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transport wheel, a feed device, and a closing device. The transport wheel continuously transports the containers and includes a plurality of transport wheel receptacles. Each transport wheel receptacle is able to receive a container. The transport wheel is designed to be rotatable about a transport wheel axis. The feed device is capable of clocked feeding of the containers to the transport wheel in a feed region of the apparatus. The closing device is arranged to close containers while they are accommodated in the transport wheel receptacles of the transport wheel. A method for closing the containers includes feeding containers to the transport wheel and closing the containers with a closing device.