Deformable Suction Elements for Angled Can Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can transferring devices face issues with faulty transfers due to unguided flight phases and asynchronous operation, leading to increased faulty transfer rates, especially during high throughput rates, as cans are not correctly aligned and can tilt or fall during transfer between vacuum drums.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates suction elements that are reversibly deformable, allowing them to move at an angle along the transferring axis, reducing unguided flight time to zero, and enabling direct abutment with the can or can blank, eliminating the need for additional actuator means and allowing synchronous transfer between vacuum drums or pocket belts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suction elements are made reversible deformable to move along the transferring axis, then unguided flight time is reduced to zero and transfer reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction elements are made dynamically deformable rather than static, allowing them to change shape and position along the transferring axis. This dynamic capability enables continuous contact with cans during transfer, eliminating unguided flight phases and significantly improving transfer reliability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction elements utilize reversible deformation as a key parameter change mechanism. By changing their physical state between deformed and restored configurations, the elements can actively engage and disengage from cans, providing continuous guidance during transfer without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems.
2Productivity
If synchronous running time of vacuum drums is reduced to increase throughput rate, then productivity increases, but faulty transfer rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable suction elements provide continuous useful action throughout the transfer process by maintaining contact with cans during the entire transfer phase. This continuous engagement ensures proper alignment and prevents faults even when vacuum drums operate asynchronously at high speeds, enabling high productivity without increasing faulty transfer rates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pivot mechanisms are added to transfer cans at angles, then transfer flexibility improves, but moved mass increases and cycle rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suction elements utilize reversible deformation as a key parameter change mechanism. By changing their physical state between deformed and restored configurations, the elements can actively engage and disengage from cans, providing continuous guidance during transfer without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems.
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 solution significantly reduces faulty transfer rates, enables high throughput, and allows for efficient transfer at angles other than vertical, optimizing cycle times and minimizing damage to cans.
Implementation Method 1
suction means are provided, in order to be able to act upon the cans or respectively can blanks with negative pressure, i.e. to secure them by suction
Implementation Method 2
the suction elements are reversibly deformable, allowing them to move at an angle along the transferring axis
Data Source
AI summary
A transferring device for transferring and/or receiving cans, can blanks, or other containers out of or into a transferring or respectively receiving axis (U) which extends at an angle to a transport path (T), with multiple suction elements (3), which can be moved along the transport path (T) during transfer, each of which has at least one suction opening (4), and which can be connected to a negative pressure source, in order to retain the cans, can blanks, or other containers by means of suction during transport along the transport path (T), wherein the suction elements (3) are designed and/or arranged in a movable manner between a retracted and an extended position at least along some sections of the transferring and/or receiving axis (U), characterized in that the suction elements (3) are designed and arranged so as to be reversibly deformable during the movement along the transferring and/or receiving axis (U) such that the movement of the suction openings (4) together with the suctioned cans, can blanks or other containers is able to be brought about along the transferring and/or receiving axis (4), exclusively on the basis of the reversible deformation of the suction elements (3), said deformation being caused by the suction effect of the negative pressure source (5), and wherein a transfer path able to be overcome exclusively by deformation of the suction elements (3), for the cans, can blanks or other containers along the transferring and/or receiving axis (4) is at least 1 mm.