Eccentric Lock Lever for Beverage Can Filling Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated beverage can filling machines face challenges with accurate positioning of cans relative to filling valves, leading to damage, leakage, and inefficiencies due to thin can materials and high-speed operations, and existing lock lever systems require labor-intensive adjustments and lack simple replacement solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a set of lock levers with varying dimensions and color coding to easily adjust and replace lock levers, ensuring accurate positioning of lift platforms relative to filling valves, eliminating the need for frequent adjustments and minimizing damage during the filling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If shims are added or subtracted under the bowl stanchions to adjust platform height, then the height at stanchion locations can be corrected, but the fill valves between stanchions remain out of tolerance and require labor-intensive measurement and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The lock lever design incorporates an eccentric pivot post that allows continuous adjustment of the platform height by changing the rotational position of the lock lever. This enables precise control of the engagement surface height without requiring discrete shims or labor-intensive measurements at multiple locations. The operator can simply rotate the lock lever to the appropriate position to achieve the desired platform height across all fill stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock lever with eccentric pivot post serves as a universal adjustment mechanism that simultaneously controls the platform height at multiple fill stations. Instead of requiring separate adjustments for each stanchion and valve location, this single mechanism provides multi-functional control over the entire filling platform's height, simplifying the setup process for the entire machine.
2Manufacturing precision
If the lock lever is rotated into position, then the platform is locked at the correct height, but the platform may be raised 0.020 to 0.030 inches higher than desired just prior to reaching the operative location
Solution Approach 1:
The lock lever incorporates a curved engagement surface that transitions from a first radius to a second, smaller radius. This curved geometry controls the platform's movement during rotation, allowing smooth approach to the locked position without sudden elevation. The changing radius profile ensures the platform is raised gradually and precisely to the target height, preventing excessive elevation that could damage cans while maintaining accurate positioning at the operative location.
3Ease of manufacture
If thin gauge aluminum cans are used to reduce material cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but can damage during high-speed filling increases due to buckling and crimping
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional mechanical shim-based adjustment system with a precision rotary adjustment mechanism using an eccentric pivot post. This substitution enables more precise control of platform height and can positioning, reducing variability in the filling process. The improved precision minimizes mechanical stress on thin-walled cans during high-speed operation, preventing buckling and crimping while maintaining the cost benefits of using thin gauge aluminum material.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to lock levers for use in an automatic beverage machine for filling cans for example. The lock lever may have an L-shaped configuration with a first and second leg, and a first engagement surface on a side of the second leg which transitions to a second engagement surface at the distal end of the second leg. The lock lever is selectively rotated between operational and non-operational positions, and the first engagement surface transitions into the second engagement surface. The transition from the first engagement surface to the second engagement surface positions the second engagement surface at a predetermined height without the first or second engagement surface extending above the predetermined height.