Flexible Cassette for Cup Support in Filling Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cassettes in food processing machines face issues with hygiene due to cavities between metallic surfaces, high costs, noise during operation, and downtime for size changes, as they are made from materials like aluminum or stainless steel that are not flexible and cannot accommodate varying cup sizes efficiently.

Innovation Solution

A cassette made from resilient or flexible materials like rubber, with a design that includes a support surface and slot for secure contact with the supporting plate, minimizing cavities and noise, and allowing easy switching between cup sizes using a reducing cassette system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metallic cassettes (aluminum or stainless steel) are used, then structural strength and heat resistance are improved, but hygiene is worsened due to cavities between cassettes and supporting plate that cannot be properly cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidhygiene

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cassette is made from a flexible material that can deform to conform to the supporting plate surface, eliminating cavities and ensuring complete contact for proper cleaning access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Temperature

If metallic cassettes are used, then heat resistance is improved, but noise is worsened due to high-speed contact with unyielding surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat resistanceVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible material absorbs impact shocks during high-speed contact with the supporting plate, reducing noise generation while maintaining heat resistance through material selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Object-affected harmful factors

If purely metallic cassettes are used, then hygiene is improved by eliminating organic material, but manufacturing cost is worsened due to expensive milling processes from solid blocks

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Changing the material parameter from rigid metal to flexible material allows for cost-effective manufacturing processes while maintaining hygiene through complete surface contact and ease of cleaning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If machines are built with multiple magazines for different cup sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost are worsened enormously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecup size adaptabilityVSAvoidmachine complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cassette system allows dynamic adjustment of cup size accommodation through flexible material deformation, eliminating the need for multiple fixed magazines and reducing machine complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single flexible cassette design can accommodate multiple cup sizes through material flexibility, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate specialized cassettes for each cup type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

5Stability of the object's composition

If rigid metallic cassettes are used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to varying cup sizes is worsened, causing production downtime

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcup size adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible material allows the cassette to dynamically adapt its shape and dimensions to match different cup sizes while maintaining structural stability during operation through elastic deformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The flexible cassette system ensures better hygiene, reduces noise, lowers costs, and enables quick changes between cup sizes, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing downtime in food processing machines.

Implementation Method 1

a cassette (1) produced from a resilient or flexible material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the resilient or flexible material will support the welding surface of the rim of the cup, eliminating the risk of leakages due to the unevenness of the rim thickness. The noise level will be minimized.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS10696439B2Cassette for use in a filling and/or sealing machine

Publication Date: 2020.06.30 PRIMODAN

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device comprising a cassette (1) having an opening (2) in an axial direction of the cassette (1) and a support surface (3) transverse to the axial direction and extending around the opening (2) of the cassette (1), the cassette (1) being capable of receiving a cup in the opening with a outwardly extending flange of the cup supported by the support surface (3), and a supporting plate (4) having an opening in a normal direction of the supporting plate (4), wherein the cassette (1) comprises a resilient or flexible material, and a slot in which a part of the supporting plate (4) is received in close contact without cavities.