Infeed Worm Angular Adjustment via Coupling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container feeding systems require frequent readjustment due to wear or dimensional deviations, leading to time-consuming and costly machine downtimes, as well as component weakening from repeated pinning and repinning for angular adjustments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating coupling and adjustment means within the drive train between the infeed worm and the drive device allows for precise angular adjustments without loosening existing pins, using mechanisms like clamp connections, fine toothing, or differential gears for setting and restoring the drive connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the infeed worm is adjusted angularly by repinning after wear or dimensional deviations, then the positioning accuracy is restored, but the adjustment process causes machine downtime and component weakening
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is designed to be movable between locked and unlocked states, enabling dynamic adjustment of the worm body's angular position without permanent fixation. This allows the system to transition from a static pinned configuration to a dynamic adjustable one, resolving the contradiction between maintaining precision and avoiding downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element acts as an intermediary between the worm body and the drive mechanism, providing a reversible connection that enables angular adjustment. Instead of directly repinning the worm body, the coupling element mediates the adjustment process, allowing precise positioning while avoiding the time-consuming and damaging repinning operation.
2Measurement precision
If the infeed worm is frequently repinned for adjustments, then the angular positioning accuracy is maintained, but the components become weakened from repeated pinning
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element provides a reusable, non-destructive adjustment mechanism that replaces the destructive pinning process. The worm body can be adjusted angularly by unlocking the coupling element, repositioning, and relocking, without creating new holes or weakening the components through repeated mechanical fastening and unfastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element serves as a protective intermediary that absorbs the adjustment operations without damaging the worm body or mount. By concentrating the adjustment mechanism in the removable coupling element rather than the permanent worm body structure, the main components are protected from weakening.
3Measurement precision
If the infeed worm is adjusted by turning the screw body relative to the mount, then angular positioning is achieved, but the adjustment requires loosening and repinning which causes downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element enables dynamic angular adjustment without the need to loosen and repin the worm body. The adjustable connection allows the worm body to be rotated to the correct angular position and then locked in place through the coupling element, maintaining productivity by avoiding machine downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment function is segmented into a separate, removable coupling element rather than being integrated into the permanent worm body structure. This segmentation allows the adjustment operation to be performed independently without affecting the main worm body or requiring costly and time-consuming repinning operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An inlet worm (11) for use in a treatment machine (1) for treating bottles or containers (2) of the like, having at least one distributing or inlet worm (11) which is provided to the side of a transport path (3), is driven by a drive device so as to rotate about a worm axis, and forms a conveying path or helix for the containers (2) on at least one worm body which is provided on a worm receptacle, having at least one transport star (12) which is assigned to the inlet worm, can be driven so as to rotate about a transport-star axis and has a multiplicity of container receptacles which are provided distributed about the transport-star axis at uniform angular intervals which correspond to a machine gauge, and having a drive device for the synchronous and angularly accurate drive of the at least one inlet worm (11) and the at least one transport star (12).