Linear Single-Block Beverage Can Filling Machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machinery for breweries and carbonated beverage production faces issues with oxidation of products during filling due to continuous air contact, foam control difficulties, inefficient de-aeration, and lid placement contamination, especially when handling foamy beverages.
Innovation Solution
A compact single-block linear machine that performs isobaric filling, de-aeration, and precise lid placement using a 'pick and place' mechanism with a mechanical arm, ensuring minimal surface contact and effective de-aeration, allowing for stationary can processing and efficient operation even with foamy products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If filling is done with an open-top can, then the filling process is simpler, but the beer continuously contacts air causing oxidation and foam control difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere by introducing carbon dioxide gas into the can headspace and maintaining a positive pressure of inert gas during filling. This prevents air contact with the beer, eliminating oxidation while allowing for controlled filling without continuous air exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary deaeration by introducing carbon dioxide into the can before filling begins. This preliminary action removes air from the headspace, preventing oxidation and foam formation during the subsequent filling process.
2Productivity
If de-aeration is performed with cans in movement, then the process is faster, but the carbon dioxide exposure time is too short to be effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary deaeration in a stationary position before filling, allowing sufficient time for carbon dioxide to effectively displace air. This preliminary action ensures complete deaeration while maintaining high productivity by separating the deaeration and filling operations in time rather than space.
3Productivity
If the lid is placed on the fly using gravity, then the placement is faster, but the lid may be incorrectly positioned with abundant foam or contaminated from sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the gravity-based mechanical sliding system with a pneumatic or robotic picking system. The lid is picked up and placed vertically onto the can mouth, eliminating sliding contact that causes contamination and positioning errors. This substitution maintains speed while improving precision and hygiene.
4Productivity
If the machine processes cans in groups, then the production flow is more efficient, but the machine layout becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing line into distinct functional modules (rinsing station, filling station, sealing station) that can handle cans in groups. Each module is independently designed and can be arranged in a linear sequence, simplifying the overall layout while maintaining group processing efficiency.
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 machine prevents product oxidation, ensures precise lid placement, reduces contamination, and enhances de-aeration effectiveness, enabling efficient processing of a wide range of beverages with varying foam levels, maintaining product quality and optimizing production flow.
Implementation Method 1
de-aerating a head space, placing and sealing (seaming) the lid of the can in which the filling is done using an isobaric process, i.e. under constant pressure with the purpose of preventing oxidation of the product and wherein the affixing of the closing lid takes place immediately after the removal of a majority of the residual air in the head space by means of a jet of carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
The placing of the lid is done 'on the fly', i.e. it falls by force of gravity along a slide and goes to rest on the mouth of the can: if there is an abundant foam covering, the lid might not be correctly positioned, while if the foam is not present said lid is correctly placed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The single-block linear machine for rinsing, for filling cans of beer with an isobaric process, for placing the lid and for the subsequent sealing in which the processing steps develop on two lines parallel to one another and on a central station connecting the two. The empty cans are placed on the conveyor belt of the first line (1) and are first spaced out regularly by a screw conveyor (2) and then picked up by an arm (3) bearing multiple suction cups for rinsing; on return of the cans the screw conveyor and the conveyor belt transfer the cans against the barrier at the end of the line where a second gripping and spacing system locates the cans on the plates of the filling stations positioned between the first (1) and the second (18) line. Each single plate (17) is lifted and the mouth of the can maintained hermetically pressed on the dispenser head (24) for a first de-aeration and for filling; when the operation is concluded the plate descends, rotates by 180° and an arm (16) bearing suction cups picks up the full cans and transfers them onto the second line (18) where the conveyor belt conveys them in a line to the closing station (22) where a jet of carbon dioxide for a second de-aeration precedes the affixing of the lids which is done by means of a special arm provided with a suction cup (56) for gripping on the external face so that no contamination occurs on the face in contact with the beer; the sealing takes place by rolling in the final carousel station (23).