Height-Adjustable Liquid Seal for Sterile Container Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container treatment systems face challenges in maintaining sterile conditions when dealing with containers of varying heights, particularly those without a neck ring, as they require a support surface on the bottom for transportation, and existing sealing systems are not adaptable to different container heights.
Innovation Solution
A treatment apparatus with a height-adjustable sealing system using a movable wall within a liquid-filled annular channel, allowing for perpendicular movement to accommodate containers of different heights and ensuring sterile conditions by sealing against the environment, and a conveyor unit that supports containers by their bottom for transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed sealing system is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to containers of different heights
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system employs a movable wall that can dynamically adjust its position vertically to accommodate containers of different heights. This dynamic element allows the sealing system to adapt to varying container dimensions while maintaining the sterile barrier function, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the movable wall within the annular channel to match different container heights. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the sealing system achieves versatility across different container sizes without requiring multiple fixed sealing configurations.
2Ease of operation
If containers are supported by their bottom, then transportation is enabled for containers without neck rings, but the container mouths are at different levels
Solution Approach 1:
The movable wall dynamically adjusts its vertical position to compensate for the varying heights of container mouths caused by different container dimensions. This dynamic adjustment enables the filling mechanism to operate effectively with containers of different sizes without requiring complex manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall acts as an intermediary element between the fixed filling mechanism and the variable container heights. It absorbs the dimensional variations and transmits a consistent sealing force, allowing the filling system to handle diverse container geometries through a single adaptable interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the treatment chamber walls are made movable, then adaptability to different container sizes is improved, but maintaining sterile conditions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a hydraulic sealing mechanism where a liquid-filled annular channel provides a seal around the movable wall. This hydraulic sealing system maintains sterile conditions by creating a continuous barrier that moves with the wall, preventing contamination while allowing the wall to adjust to different container heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable wall and liquid-filled channel create a flexible sealing interface that can deform and move to accommodate different container dimensions while maintaining the sterile barrier. This flexible sealing mechanism ensures that sterility is maintained despite the movable nature of the chamber walls.
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 system effectively maintains sterile conditions and adapts to various container heights by using a movable wall within a liquid-filled channel for sealing, ensuring that containers can be treated efficiently regardless of their height, and supports containers by their bottom for transportation, enhancing the versatility of the treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
sealing means (20) which seal the treatment chamber (2) in an area in relation to elements which are movable relative to each other and in particular walls of the apparatus against the environment of the treatment chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for treating containers may include a treatment chamber in which the containers are treated, and a conveyor unit which transports the containers within the treatment chamber. The treatment chamber can be isolated by means of at least one wall from an environment external of the treatment chamber in such a way that sterile conditions can be achieved in the treatment chamber, and by means of at least one treatment unit which treats the containers within the treatment chamber. At least one wall of the treatment chamber is arranged to be movable. A sealing assembly seals the treatment chamber in an area with regard to elements of the apparatus, which are movable relative to each other, against the environment external of the treatment chamber. The sealing assembly includes a surrounding channel, into which a liquid sealing agent can be introduced, as well as a secondary wall which is arranged within the channel at least in sections. The secondary wall is movable relative to the channel in the circumferential direction of the channel, and the secondary wall is movable in a direction that is perpendicular to the circumferential direction.