Container Treatment Machine with Linear Motor Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing treatment machines for containers face challenges with complex and space-intensive drive systems for turntables, requiring large transport distances and compromising treatment quality, and struggle to adapt to different container formats efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The treatment machine features a revolving upper conveyor chain with a central rotary feedthrough and rotating media lines, allowing for active gripping and positioning of centering heads without retracting them against the transport direction, and uses compact rotary drives and suction mechanisms for flexible handling of various container formats.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If individually driven support vehicles with actively driven turntables are used, then the containers can be treated on linear motor systems, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptation to different machine capacities and dimensionsVSAvoidcomplexity of driving turntables

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drive system for turntables with a magnetic field-based linear motor system. The linear motor eliminates the need for mechanical transmissions, gears, and individually driven support vehicles, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to treat containers on a linear path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The linear motor system serves multiple functions: it provides linear motion for container treatment, replaces the drive function previously required for turntables, and enables flexible adaptation to different machine capacities and dimensions through programmable control, eliminating the need for complex individual drive mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If large transport distances are used to compensate for machine output, then the containers can be treated, but the treatment quality deteriorates due to increased speed requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine outputVSAvoidquality of treatment on individual units

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The linear motor system enables dynamic control of transport speed, allowing the containers to move at optimized speeds through each treatment zone. This dynamic speed control ensures that treatment quality is maintained while productivity is maximized, eliminating the need to increase transport distance to compensate for output requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If compact transport means are used, then the space requirements are reduced, but the handling gentleness of containers may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace requirementsVSAvoidhandling gentleness

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The linear motor system replaces complex mechanical transmission mechanisms with a magnetic field-based drive, enabling compact machine design while providing smooth, vibration-free container handling. The direct magnetic drive eliminates mechanical impacts and reduces handling stress on containers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design enables uninterrupted media supply, flexible adaptation to different container formats, and improved treatment quality with reduced complexity and space requirements, allowing for efficient and gentle handling of containers.

Implementation Method 1

linear motor systems with straight transport sections

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLinear motor: Linear Motor

Implementation Method 2

suction mechanisms for flexible handling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3594140B1Treatment machine for container

Publication Date: 2023.10.25 KRONES AG

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AI summary

A treatment machine (1, 21) for containers (2) is described, comprising at least one treatment unit (3, 3'), a lower transport means (4, 24) with rotating turntables (5) for the bottom areas of the containers, and an upper transport means (6) with rotating centering heads (7) for the opening areas of the containers. The transport means run in a straight line one above the other in the area of the treatment unit. Because the upper transport means is designed as a rotating conveyor chain (8) with a central rotary feedthrough (9) and thus rotating media lines (11) connected to the centering heads, the holding and positioning functions required for the treatment of the containers can be performed by the upper transport means, so that the necessary guidance of the containers is essentially possible in their opening area. This reduces the need for changeover work when changing formats compared to known treatment machines.