Filling System Separate Drive Means for Stroke Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling systems require complex mechanisms to achieve both large adjustment strokes and sufficient contact pressure, often involving cam-controlled drives that are cumbersome and require multiple steps for reliable locking and unlocking.

Innovation Solution

The system employs separate drive means for the adjusting stroke and contact pressure stroke, with the adjusting stroke being significantly longer than the contact stroke, utilizing a fluid pressure drive for contact pressure application, particularly a pneumatic drive, and a coupling device to connect the receiving device to the fluid pressure drive only during filling, allowing for efficient and reliable positioning and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a single cam-controlled drive is used to achieve both large adjustment stroke and contact pressure, then the device can perform both functions, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to multiple locking/unlocking steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjusting strokeVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive function is segmented into two independent drive means: a cam-controlled drive for the adjusting stroke (positioning) and a fluid pressure drive for the contact stroke (pressing). This segmentation allows each drive to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity and improving reliability by eliminating the need for multiple locking/unlocking steps in a single mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If a cam-controlled drive is used to achieve large adjustment stroke, then the positioning function is satisfied, but the contact pressure application becomes complex requiring additional locking mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjusting strokeVSAvoidlocking and unlocking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drive function is segmented into two independent drive means: a cam-controlled drive for the adjusting stroke (positioning) and a fluid pressure drive for the contact stroke (pressing). This segmentation allows each drive to be optimized for its specific function, reducing overall system complexity and improving reliability by eliminating the need for multiple locking/unlocking steps in a single mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical cam-controlled drive is replaced by a fluid pressure drive (pneumatic or hydraulic) for the contact stroke. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical locking and unlocking mechanisms, thereby improving reliability and simplifying the system while maintaining the ability to apply sufficient contact pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the actuating stroke is made significantly longer than the contact stroke (ratio at least 3:1), then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the force required for the contact stroke increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidcontact pressure force
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cam-controlled drive is replaced by a fluid pressure drive (pneumatic or hydraulic) for the contact stroke. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical locking and unlocking mechanisms, thereby improving reliability and simplifying the system while maintaining the ability to apply sufficient contact pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

A fluid pressure drive (pneumatic or hydraulic) is introduced to apply the contact pressure. Fluid pressure systems are capable of generating high forces in a compact space, making them ideal for applying the necessary contact pressure during the short contact stroke without requiring a long actuating stroke.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 design simplifies the process by allowing large adjustment strokes with minimal force and applying sufficient contact pressure with a fluid pressure drive, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the filling process while maintaining food safety standards.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a fluid pressure drive for contact pressure application, particularly a pneumatic drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic drive: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

a coupling device to connect the receiving device to the fluid pressure drive only during filling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical coupling: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4321474A1Filling system and method for filling containers
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 KHS GMBH
  • EP4321474A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321474A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321474A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a filling system for filling containers (3) with at least one filling element (2), wherein the filling element (2) has at least one filling valve (7) and a receiving device (6) associated with the filling valve (7) for receiving the containers (3), wherein the receiving device (6) is movably arranged relative to the filling valve (7) from an insertion position via an actuating stroke. According to the invention, separate drive means are provided for effecting the actuating stroke and a subsequent pressing stroke of the receiving device (6).