Filling machine for liquid and pourable goods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling machines for liquid and pourable goods face contamination issues due to the transportation of components through fixed channels and pipes, leading to residue buildup and potential mold, requiring frequent and costly cleaning, and are not easily adaptable for various products.
Innovation Solution
A self-service filling machine with interchangeable storage containers and a transport device that moves in multiple dimensions, allowing direct filling into containers without intermediate contact with machine parts, using controlled outlet openings and a control unit to ensure hygiene and easy maintenance, accommodating a wide range of goods and sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed channels and pipes are used to transport liquid and pourable goods within the machine, then the goods can be delivered from storage to packaging, but residues build up in the channels and pipes leading to contamination and mold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the goods delivery function from fixed channels and pipes, and instead uses a mobile robot that moves freely between storage containers and packaging. This eliminates the fixed transport infrastructure that causes residue buildup, while maintaining efficient goods delivery through automated robotic manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile robot acts as an intermediary between storage containers and packaging, replacing the direct connection through fixed channels. The robot transfers goods without requiring permanent transport pathways, thus preventing residue accumulation in fixed infrastructure while maintaining continuous goods flow.
2Productivity
If fixed channels and pipes are used for component transportation, then goods can be conveyed through the machine, but frequent and costly cleaning is required to remove residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the fixed channel and pipe infrastructure entirely, replacing it with a mobile robot that transports goods through free movement. This extraction eliminates the surfaces where residues accumulate, thereby removing the need for frequent and costly cleaning operations while maintaining full transport capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adopts a approach where the transport function is provided by a mobile robot rather than permanent fixed infrastructure. This allows for easier cleaning or replacement of the transport mechanism compared to embedded channels and pipes, significantly reducing cleaning costs and operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed installations are used to transport food components, then the machine can process various ingredients, but residues remain in channels and pipelines causing food safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the transport function from fixed channels and replaces it with a mobile robot that can be easily cleaned or replaced between different ingredient processing tasks. This maintains the machine's versatility in handling various ingredients while eliminating the food safety risks associated with residue accumulation in fixed infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed channels to a dynamic mobile robot for ingredient transport. The robot's mobility allows it to be repositioned, cleaned, or replaced easily between different ingredient processing operations, maintaining versatility while ensuring food safety through reduced contamination risk.
Data Source
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AI summary
The object of the invention is to create an automatic filling machine for various ingredients in several containers containing the goods for liquid and pourable goods, with the ingredients being guided directly from the containers containing the goods into packaging that can be handed over to the customer. In addition, the machine should be low-maintenance and easy to operate, as well as enable clean and hygienic operation. The filling machine should also enable the use of a large number of different goods or ingredients. Automatic filling machine (26) for a large number of liquid and/or pourable goods, the goods being stored in a number of interchangeable storage containers (1) which are arranged in at least two dimensions, and in that the storage containers (1) have an outlet opening (4) and are arranged in a housing (26) and that the housing (26) has a removal opening (6) and that an input unit (16) is arranged on the filling device, the input unit (16) being connected to the control unit (12). is characterized in that at least one transport container (2) can be moved by a transport device (3) that can be moved or shifted in the dimensions of the arrangement of the storage containers (1), so that the transport container (2) can be moved to the storage containers (1) and/or their Outlet openings (4) can be transported and the contents of the reservoir (1) can be delivered directly into the transport container (2), the transport device (3) being controlled by the control unit (12) is controllable and wherein the transport container (2) is the final packaging.