Container Holding Device with Linear Drive and Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container treatment devices have complex structures, require significant space, and are time-consuming to reconfigure for different container types, with unreliable spring systems that can lead to tipping and damage, and limited alignment speed.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment device using independently controlled double-acting linear drives and displacement sensors to adjust and fix containers at their upper mouth or neck area, allowing for variable control and adaptation to different container sizes without reconfiguring the machine head, eliminating the need for cam guides and reducing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-loaded centering bells are used to hold containers, then containers can be held reliably during movement, but the machine structure becomes very complex and takes up a lot of space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the height compensation function from the complex spring system and cam track mechanism, replacing it with a simplified actuator system that directly controls the holding device height. This eliminates the need for complex cam guides and spring preload mechanisms while maintaining reliable container holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring-loaded centering bell system with an actuator-based holding device that uses controlled mechanical movement. This substitution eliminates the complex spring-cam track mechanism while achieving the same function of reliable container holding with simplified structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If spring systems are used for height compensation, then flexibility and even pressure on containers is achieved, but the system lacks reliability and can cause tipping or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable spring system with an actuator-based height adjustment mechanism. The actuator provides controlled, reliable height compensation while maintaining flexibility for different container heights, eliminating the risks of spring breakage and uneven pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect container presence and position, providing feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable and adaptive height compensation, allowing the holding device to adjust to different container types while preventing tipping and damage through controlled force application.
3Ease of operation
If cam tracks and cam discs are used to control holding devices, then container fixation and release is achieved, but the alignment speed is limited due to spring system inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inertia-limited spring-cam system with direct actuator control. The actuators can rapidly adjust the holding device height and position without the inertia constraints of spring systems, enabling faster alignment and container handling speeds while maintaining easy fixation and release operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the entire cam track height is changed for different container types, then adaptability to different containers is achieved, but the changeover process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the holding device height dynamically adjustable through actuators controlled by a control unit. This dynamic adjustment capability allows rapid reconfiguration for different container types without time-consuming manual reinstallation of cam tracks, significantly reducing changeover time while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables rapid parameter changes (holding device height and position) through actuator control. The control unit can quickly adjust these parameters to match different container specifications, eliminating the need for physical reconfiguration of cam tracks and reducing changeover time while maintaining adaptability to various container types.
5Manufacturing precision
If centering bells are used to press containers down, then containers are firmly centered, but the height position varies depending on container diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses sensors to detect container position and provides feedback to the control unit. This feedback enables the actuator to precisely adjust the holding device height for each container, ensuring uniform height positioning and exact centering regardless of container diameter variations, thereby improving both centering precision and height position uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the holding device height parameter based on detected container characteristics. This parameter adjustment ensures that each container is positioned at the correct height and centered precisely, eliminating the height position variations that occur with fixed-centering-bell systems while maintaining exact centering precision.
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 precise and flexible handling of various container sizes and types without retooling, ensuring constant height and exact centering, reducing construction costs and machine complexity, while preventing container tipping and damage.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating drive of the holding device can, in particular, have a fluidically actuable, double-acting linear drive. For example, this drive can be formed by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder or hydraulic cylinder.
Implementation Method 2
at least one displacement sensor for detecting a current position of the holding device is formed
Implementation Method 3
The actuator can be adjusted in the vertical direction, so that the fixation can be easily adapted to different container sizes. Both tolerance compensation for containers of the same size that differ slightly in height and compensation for the handling of different container sizes is made possible.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has multiple holding devices (14) adjustable in a vertical direction (VR) for holding, gripping and/or rotation of a container (10) at an upper opening (18) and/or at a neck area. The holding devices comprise an electrical linear drive (26) or a dual acting adjusting drive (12) and a force-and/or path sensor (28) for detecting adjusting and/or retaining force of the linear drive and/or actual position of the holding devices, where the retaining force is adjustable for fixing the container within a pre-set area. The holding devices are controlled in dependent upon sensor signals. An independent claim is also included for a method for treating a container.