Container Filling Machine with Segmented Valve Actuator Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rotary and inline filling machines are dedicated to either bottles or cans, occupying significant space and lacking versatility, making them unsuitable for micro-manufacturers that need to fill both types of containers efficiently and effectively.
Innovation Solution
A container filling machine with alternating filling units, each equipped with a valve actuator assembly for lateral and longitudinal movement, allowing for the use of dedicated valves for specific container types, enabling the filling of both bottles and cans on a single machine, and a non-pneumatic container lift cylinder assembly for precise and gentle positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated filling machines are used for bottles or cans, then filling precision and reliability are improved, but device versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filling machine is divided into multiple filling units, each with dedicated valves for specific container types. The machine can be configured with different combinations of filling units (e.g., bottle filling units, can filling units) to match production needs, allowing both specialized performance and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine employs adjustable and reconfigurable filling units that can be dynamically adjusted for different container types. The positioning systems and valve mechanisms can be adapted for bottles, cans, or other containers, enabling the same machine to maintain high filling precision across different container varieties.
2Manufacturing precision
If dedicated filling machines for bottles and cans are used, then filling precision is improved, but device complexity and space requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filling units with different container type specializations are merged into a single integrated machine. The machine can accommodate bottle filling units, can filling units, and other container filling units simultaneously or alternately, reducing the need for multiple separate machines while maintaining filling accuracy for each container type.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling machine is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple container types through interchangeable or reconfigurable filling units. Each unit maintains dedicated valves and positioning systems for its specific container type, ensuring filling precision while the overall machine provides multi-functional capability.
3Reliability
If multiple dedicated filling machines are used for different container types, then filling reliability is improved, but space requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple dedicated filling machines into one integrated machine with multiple filling units. Each unit is dedicated to specific container types (bottles, cans, etc.), maintaining filling reliability and consistency, while the combined machine occupies significantly less floor space than multiple separate machines would require.
4Adaptability or versatility
If alternating filling units with dedicated valves are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is segmented into alternating filling units, each with dedicated valves for specific container types. This segmentation allows the machine to handle multiple container types (bottles, cans, etc.) simultaneously or alternately, improving adaptability while keeping each unit's complexity manageable through modular design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A container filling machine is taught, said machine comprising one or more filling units, said filling units comprising a valve actuator assembly having a first end moveably connected to the filling machine to effect both lateral movement and reciprocating longitudinal movement; from a second end of the valve actuator assembly; and a valve removably connected to a second end of the valve actuator assembly, such that longitudinal movement of the valve actuator assembly actuates the valve to open and filler a container, wherein the valve is adapted to fill a plurality of varieties of containers. A method is also taught for filling one or more types of containers with a liquid. The method comprises feeding a stream of one more types of containers to a filling machine, said filling machine comprising one or more travelling filling units, each filling unit comprising a valve actuator, and a valve; associating each of said one or more types of containers with a filling unit; actuating said valve actuator as it travels along the filling machine to actuate said valve; actuating said valve to fill said associated container; and de-associating each of said one or more types of containers from said filling unit. Said one or more valves are adapted to fill one or more types of containers. A container filling unit adapted for filling one or more types of containers is further taught.