Fluid Flow Generator for Container Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling station technologies often cause damage or breakage of fragile products like eggs, apples, and glass objects during filling due to forceful placement and inadequate consideration of product size and shape, leading to inefficient packing and potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
The use of airflow generated by a fluid flow generator, such as a fan, to distribute products evenly within a container, acting as a cushion between the products and the container bottom, and between products themselves, preventing collision and breakage, while allowing for adjustable airflow force based on product weight to achieve optimal packing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If products are placed with force onto each other to achieve efficient filling, then filling speed and productivity are improved, but product breakage and damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
A fluid flow (air current) is introduced as an intermediary between the feed and the products in the container. The fluid flow gently propels products into the container and distributes them evenly, replacing direct mechanical contact and forceful placement. This mediator allows efficient filling while preventing product breakage by eliminating impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical placement mechanisms (robots, conveyors that drop products) with a fluid dynamic system. Instead of using mechanical force to place products, the system uses controlled fluid flow to transport and distribute products, substituting mechanical action with aerodynamic action to reduce damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If products are placed one by one to avoid breakage, then product damage is reduced, but filling time and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow operates continuously to transport and distribute multiple products simultaneously into the container. Unlike sequential placement methods, the continuous fluid stream handles multiple items at once, maintaining uninterrupted filling action while keeping products separated by the fluid medium, thus reducing both time and breakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using a controlled fluid flow (air current) to transport and distribute products. This pneumatic system allows multiple products to be moved and placed simultaneously without direct mechanical contact, achieving fast filling while preventing breakage through the gentleness of fluid interaction.
3Productivity
If strong fluid flow is used to distribute products quickly, then productivity is improved, but product damage from fluid force increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid flow parameters (velocity, pressure, direction) are made dynamically adjustable based on product characteristics and filling requirements. The system adapts the fluid flow strength in real-time, using stronger flow for robust products and gentler flow for fragile items, optimizing both productivity and product protection through dynamic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the fluid flow (velocity, pressure, flow rate) to match product fragility and filling needs. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high productivity with appropriate flow strength while preventing damage through reduced flow intensity for fragile products, demonstrating parameter optimization.
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 method significantly reduces product breakage and damage, achieving an optimal fill factor while ensuring the products float or are placed gently, making it suitable for fragile items, even when fill efficiency is not a priority.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid flow generator (10) which during operation generates a fluid flow (13) between a bottom (12) of the container and the at least one product placed thereon by the feed
Implementation Method 2
The airflow functions as cushion between the bottom of the container and the products to be placed thereon, but also between the products themselves
Implementation Method 3
Products are distributed in surprising manner over the bottom of the container by generating an airflow
Implementation Method 4
a fluid flow generator (10) which during operation generates a fluid flow (13)
Implementation Method 5
a control (20) acting during operation at least on the fluid flow generator (10) for the purpose of adjusting the force of the fluid flow (13)
Implementation Method 6
The fluid flow then acquires a force preferably lower than that at which damage could be caused to the products. Additionally or alternatively, the force of the fluid flow can be selected so as to cause the products to float at or just above the bottom of the container
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device and a method for filling containers (8) such as crates with products, such as glass objects, eggs etc. The device herein comprises a filling station (11) with a setup position (15) for placing the container with the bottom thereof. There is also a feed which during operation feeds at least one of the products at a time to the setup position (15) and is adapted to place the at least one of the products in the container. The method comprises of corresponding operations. In order to achieve an optimum fill factor of the container and prevent breakage of and/or damage to the products as far as possible, the device and the method are respectively distinguished by a fluid flow generator (10) adapted to generate a fluid flow during operation through the bottom of the container (8).