Modular Transport System for Bottle Fillers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container processing machine transport systems face challenges in microbiological cleanliness, ease of cleaning, and variability, with fixed star configurations and large floor coverage areas that hinder effective sanitation and adaptability to different applications.
Innovation Solution
A modular transport system with slender torpedo-shaped support housings stabilized by connecting struts, allowing for variable star configurations and easy assembly/disassembly, featuring identical connection interfaces and struts for optimal flexibility and hygiene, with smooth surfaces for cleaning and minimal floor interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed processing table with rigidly interconnected hoods is used, then structural stability is improved, but ease of cleaning and microbiological hygiene deteriorate due to intersecting areas and angles where dirt becomes fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into separate modular components: individual support housings for each star wheel, separate connection struts, and detached star wheels. This segmentation eliminates the rigidly interconnected hood structure, creating smooth transitions and removing intersecting areas where dirt accumulates, thereby improving cleanability while maintaining structural stability through modular assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed star configuration is used, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability to different applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The star configuration is made dynamically adjustable through modular support housings with standardized connection interfaces. Stars can be added, removed, or repositioned by detaching and reattaching support housings via connection struts, allowing the system to adapt to different applications while maintaining structural stability through consistent modular connection standards.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a support plate covering large floor area is used, then star positioning stability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to extended cleaning cycles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single large support plate, the system uses multiple small, separate support housings positioned only where stars are located. This segmentation reduces the total surface area requiring cleaning, eliminates intersecting areas, and allows rapid cleaning of individual components, thereby improving productivity while maintaining star positioning stability through dedicated support structures.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a modular construction with detachable components is used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular components are designed with universal standardized connection interfaces that work across all support housings and star wheels. The connection struts and support housing interfaces are made mutually substitutable, allowing a limited set of standardized components to create multiple configurations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A transport system for container processing machines, particularly for bottle fillers, with inlet and outlet stars, which can be driven and are arranged on columnar support housings, and define a star configuration, in which the inlet and outlet stars define container transport paths which are linked with the machine. Each support housing presents at least one, preferably lateral, connection interface, to which a joining end of a connection strut is attached, in a removable manner. The other joining end of the connection strut is connected, in a detachable manner, to a connection interface of an additional support housing or of a machine substructure. In each case, in such manner, the star configuration can be changed as desired in a modular manner.