Linear Rolling Guide Cage for High-Speed Container Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional linear guides fail to operate satisfactorily at extremely high transport or movement speeds and accelerations due to high friction and pressure from ball chains, leading to limitations in performance and resistance to continuous stress.
Innovation Solution
A linear guide system featuring a rolling element cage with rolling elements that extend beyond the holder, allowing for high-speed and high-acceleration movements without deflections or return channels, utilizing a lubrication device for low-friction and noiseless operation, and designed to hold rolling elements independently without interacting with the holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional linear guides with ball chains and deflection channels are used, then load capacity and precision are improved, but friction and resistance increase excessively at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the deflection channels and return paths from the linear guide system. By removing these components, the ball chain structure that causes friction and resistance is eliminated, allowing rolling elements to move directly between carrier and holder without navigating complex internal channels.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of guiding rolling elements through internal deflection channels as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by allowing rolling elements to move externally along a simplified path. The carrier and holder directly contact the rolling elements without intermediate guiding structures, reversing the conventional guidance mechanism.
2Device complexity
If conventional linear guides with internal deflection channels are used, then structural compactness is improved, but maximum performance at extremely high speeds is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the internal deflection channels and return paths from the guide structure, eliminating the complex internal geometry that limits high-speed performance. This extraction simplifies the movement path and reduces restrictions on maximum operating speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic configuration where the carrier extends beyond the holder, allowing the rolling elements to move in a more flexible, less constrained manner. This dynamic arrangement adapts to high-speed movements by eliminating rigid internal channel constraints.
3Manufacturing precision
If ball chains with deflection channels are used, then guidance precision is improved, but friction causes pressure buildup and reduces continuous stress resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the deflection channels that cause friction-induced pressure buildup. By removing these channels, the system maintains guidance precision through direct contact between rolling elements and the carrier-holder interface, eliminating the pressure accumulation problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical ball chain system with deflection channels with a simpler direct rolling contact system. This substitution eliminates the friction mechanisms inherent in traditional ball chains while maintaining guidance functionality through direct carrier-holder contact.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional linear guides are used, then standardization is improved, but they cannot permanently withstand required extremely high path speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic design where the carrier extends beyond the holder, creating a more flexible system capable of withstanding extremely high speeds. This dynamic configuration allows the guide to adapt to high-speed operations that conventional standardized guides cannot permanently withstand.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental geometric parameters of the linear guide by extending the carrier beyond the holder and eliminating internal deflection channels. This parameter change creates a new class of high-speed capable guides that differ from conventional standardized designs.
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
Enables precise, backlash-free guidance with high load absorption and stiffness, supporting accelerations up to 300 m/s^2 and beyond, while preventing the stick-slip effect, with reduced components and allowing for dry running or minimal lubrication.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of rolling elements are arranged between the carrier and the holder, which rolling elements guide the movement of the treatment device and/or the movement of the carrier with respect to the holder, wherein these rolling elements at least temporarily contact both a running surface of the carrier and a running surface of the holder
Implementation Method 2
allowing the rolling elements to move independently and maintain contact with both the carrier and holder surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus for treating containers, having a treatment device for treating the containers, and a carrier which is arranged such that it can move linearly with respect to a holder, wherein a plurality of rolling elements being arranged between the carrier and the holder and guiding the movement of the treatment device, wherein these rolling elements at least temporarily contact both a running surface of the carrier and a running surface of the holder, wherein the rolling elements are arranged in a rolling elements cage and move in the direction of movement, wherein this rolling element cage extends in the direction of movement and has a greater length than the holder.