Grouped Container Conveyors for Low-Stress Cleaning Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container cleaning systems subject containers to high mechanical stress, leading to wear and malfunctions such as scuffing rings, tipping, and inefficient handling due to varying friction coefficients, which reduces service life and requires manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment plant with group-based inlet and outlet conveyors that allow independent, controlled transport of containers, eliminating bulk feeders and reducing mechanical stress by using long-stator linear motor conveyors with individually movable container holders and transfer devices for precise handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If containers are transported through bulk conveyor and pusher table systems, then high throughput capacity is achieved, but containers are subjected to high mechanical stress causing wear and scuffing rings
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the container transport function into separate modular components: individual container holders that move independently through the cleaning device. Each holder is a separate unit that can be controlled independently, replacing the bulk conveyor approach where many containers are pushed together through a single pusher table mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces container holders as intermediary carriers between the bulk conveyor and the cleaning device. These holders act as mediators that receive containers from the bulk conveyor and present them to the cleaning device one at a time or in small groups, eliminating the need for direct bulk pushing through the cleaning device.
2Productivity
If bulk conveyor and pusher table are used for container feeding, then high processing speed is achieved, but process reliability decreases due to varying friction coefficients and container malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the position and status of each container holder and container. This feedback information is used to control the movement of individual holders, allowing the system to adapt to variations in container friction coefficients and prevent malfunctions by adjusting holder positions and movements in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The container holders are designed to be dynamically adjustable in position and movement. Each holder can be independently controlled to accommodate variations in container conditions, allowing the system to maintain reliable operation despite changing friction coefficients and container states, rather than relying on fixed bulk pushing mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If individual container holders are moved sequentially in groups, then mechanical stress on containers is minimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container holders are designed as multi-functional components that can perform multiple operations: receiving containers from the bulk conveyor, transporting them through the cleaning device, presenting them to the cleaning device, and returning to the bulk conveyor area. This universality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while minimizing mechanical stress on containers.
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 solution minimizes mechanical stress on containers, enhances process reliability, and reduces wear by ensuring controlled guidance and efficient handling, even in the presence of varying contamination levels.
Implementation Method 1
The container treatment plant has an inlet container conveyor, preferably a single-lane. The inlet container conveyor has inlet container holders that can be moved sequentially towards the container inlet in several (e.g., two, three, or four) groups
Implementation Method 2
a transfer device (40, 50) designed to transfer the containers transported in each group from the inlet container holders (36) to the container inlet (24)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The container treatment system (10) comprises a container cleaning device (22) with a container inlet (24) and a container outlet (26). The container treatment system (10) further comprises an inlet container conveyor (34) which has inlet container supports (36) that are movable in several groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) consisting of several inlet container supports (36) in succession towards the container inlet (24) for the purpose of transporting containers (12) in groups towards the container inlet (24). Alternatively or additionally, the container treatment plant (10) also has a discharge container conveyor (42) which has discharge container supports (44) that can be moved in several groups (G5, G6, G7, G8) from several of the discharge container supports (44) successively away from the container discharge (26) for transporting containers (12) away from the container discharge (26) in groups.