Rotary Filling Machine Cam Tube Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotary filling machines face challenges in achieving precise and repeatable filling levels, managing format changes, protecting level elements from damage, and optimizing productivity, particularly in isobaric filling systems, due to complex and costly automation solutions that often require pneumatic cylinders or electric motors for each valve group.
Innovation Solution
A filling machine with a system that uses a single adjustable cam and electro-actuated reversible blocking means to automatically adjust the position of return air tubes, allowing flexible management of the filling level and decompression without the need for pneumatic cylinders or electric motors, and eliminates the use of a common annular abutment ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If pneumatic cylinders or electric motors are used for each valve group to adjust return air tubes, then automatic filling level adjustment and flexible tube management are achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the adjustment mechanism for all return air tubes into a single common adjustment system. Instead of having independent actuators for each valve group, a single adjustment mechanism controls the position of return air tubes across multiple valve groups, thereby achieving automatic filling level adjustment while reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for numerous pneumatic cylinders or electric motors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal adjustment mechanism that serves multiple valve groups simultaneously. The common adjustment system is designed to accommodate and adjust return air tubes for several valve groups with a single mechanism, providing multi-functionality that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining automatic control capabilities.
2Manufacturing precision
If a common annular abutment ring is used to support return air tubes, then all valve groups can be adjusted to the same level, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or eliminates the common annular abutment ring from the system. Instead of using a complex ring structure to support and adjust return air tubes for all valve groups, the invention adopts a simpler support structure that achieves the same function of maintaining consistent filling levels across valve groups without requiring the elaborate annular abutment design.
3Measurement precision
If complex automation solutions are implemented for each valve group, then precise and repeatable filling levels are achieved, but productivity is reduced due to increased maintenance and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the adjustment mechanisms into a common system, the patent reduces the number of moving parts and potential failure points. This consolidation maintains precise filling level control while improving productivity through reduced maintenance requirements and simpler operation, as fewer individual components need to be monitored and serviced.
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 simplifies and cost-effectively achieves automatic filling level adjustment and flexible tube management, enhancing reliability and productivity while reducing complexity and component count, allowing all valve groups to be adjusted to the same level without additional motors or common abutments.
Implementation Method 1
uses a single adjustable cam and electro-actuated reversible blocking means to automatically adjust the position of return air tubes
Implementation Method 2
electro-actuated reversible blocking means to automatically adjust the position of return air tubes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine (1) for filling containers with liquids, comprising: - a support structure (9); - a rotating carousel (10) provided with a tank (12); - a plurality of valve groups (13) mounted on said carousel for filling containers (2); and a logic control unit (200) suitable to automatically manage the operation of the filling machine. Each valve group (13) comprises an air return tube (16) which is provided with an open lower end (16'), susceptible to be inserted in a container, and an opposite upper end (16") and can be moved axially between at least one lowered position and a raised position. Each valve group comprises: means (50) for guiding the axial movement of the return air tube (16) between a lower end stop and an upper end stop, wherein said at least one lowered position is between said two end stops; elastic mechanical means (60) suitable to exercise constantly an axial thrust action on the return air tube towards the raised position; - means (70) for reversibly blocking the return air tube in any axial position between said lower end stop and said upper end stop; and - a cam follower (80) rigidly connected to the tube. The filling machine (1) comprises a cam (90) which is placed peripherally to the rotating carousel (10) at a first angular position (α1) with respect to an entry station (3) to be cyclically engaged by the cam follower. The cam is profiled so as to impose on each tube (16) a predetermined axial displacement (H) towards the lower end stop and has a circumferentially limited operating angle of working Δ. The filling machine (1) comprises means (100) for moving the cam (90) in height. The logic control unit is operatively connected to the means for moving the cam in height and to the reversible blocking means of each return air tube and is programmed: - to command the blocking of the blocking means when the individual tube is located within the operating angle of working of the cam to keep the return air tube in the lowered position, and - to command the unblocking of the reversible blocking means of each individual air return tube at a second angular position chosen as a function of the filling operating cycle to be performed on the containers.