Filling Device with Movable Weighing Table for Liquid Crystal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling devices require significant effort and conversion when adapting to different container sizes, and they often necessitate manual calibration and positioning, which is inefficient and labor-intensive, especially in clean room environments where high precision and purity are required, such as when filling liquid crystal mixtures.

Innovation Solution

A filling device with a weighing system and a filling needle system that includes a positioning device adaptable to various container diameters, a vertically movable receiving table, and an adjustment unit, allowing for automatic adaptation to different container sizes and enabling inerting and filling without manual relocation or complex conversion processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the filling device is adapted to different container sizes by manual adjustment and conversion, then the filling accuracy can be maintained, but the device complexity and conversion effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling accuracyVSAvoidconversion effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving table is made vertically movable via a linear unit, allowing dynamic adjustment of the table position to accommodate different container sizes. This dynamic positioning eliminates the need for manual conversion of the filling device while maintaining accurate filling, as the system adapts automatically through vertical movement rather than structural reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the filling device requires manual positioning and calibration for different containers, then the filling precision can be ensured, but the productivity and automation level decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling precisionVSAvoidautomation level
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service operation where containers are automatically fed onto the movable receiving table and positioned without manual intervention. The linear unit automatically adjusts the table position, and the weighing system continuously monitors filling weight, eliminating the need for manual positioning and calibration while maintaining high filling precision throughout the automated process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the container position is specified separately for different diameters, then the filling accuracy can be maintained, but the ease of operation and handling effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling accuracyVSAvoidhandling effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving table serves multiple functions: it accommodates containers of different diameters through vertical positioning, provides automatic weighing integration, and enables inerting operations. This universal design allows the same table structure to handle various container types without requiring separate positioning mechanisms or increasing handling effort, as the system adapts to different diameters through its movable capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the filling device is converted for each container size change, then the adaptability can be maintained, but the loss of time and efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer size adaptabilityVSAvoidconversion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving table is pre-configured with vertical movement capability through the linear unit, allowing it to accommodate different container sizes without requiring conversion actions. The system is prepared in advance to handle size variations through its inherent movable design, eliminating conversion time entirely as no reconfiguration is needed when changing from one container size to another.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3083408B1Filling device and use thereof for filling a fluid
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 MERCK PATENT GMBH
  • EP3083408B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3083408B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3083408B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a filling device (1) for filling a fluid into at least one container, wherein the filling device (1) has a weighing system (2) and a filling needle system (3). The weighing system (2) has a positioning device (4), which can be adapted to a container diameter and which can be annular. The weighing system (2) is arranged on an accommodating table (7), which can be moved vertically by means of a linear unit. The filling needle system (3) is arranged in a position which is above the positioning device (4) on an adjusting unit and which is spaced apart in an axial direction. The filling needle system (3) comprises a combined filling and inerting needle (12). Components of the filling needle system (3) which, during the filling process, can come in contact with the respective fluid used preferably consist of stainless steel and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The filling device (1) can comprise two or more weighing systems (2), wherein the weighing systems (2) are each arranged on a separate accommodating table (7), each table being vertically movable by means of a respective linear unit (6).