Movable Filling Element for Viscous Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling devices for viscous media, such as mustard and tomato ketchup, face issues with vibrations during the lifting movement of load cells, which disrupt weight measurements and require taring, making the filling process inefficient and prone to errors, especially when handling food products.
Innovation Solution
A device with a movable filling element that inserts into the container's mouth, allowing precise control and weighing during the filling process, utilizing a valve device and weight measuring system without the need for lifting elements, and featuring a guide device for precise movement and minimal vibration, ensuring accurate filling and weight measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the container is lifted relative to the height-fixed filling valve to achieve immersion, then the filling process can proceed, but strong vibrations arise during the lifting movement that disturb the weight measurement and taring
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lifting the container relative to a fixed filling valve, the invention inverts the approach by making the filling element movable relative to the container. The filling element is inserted into the container mouth and can be moved vertically to control the filling process, while the container remains stationary on the load cell for continuous weight measurement without vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a movable filling element as an intermediary between the filling valve and the container. This filling element can be precisely positioned and moved to control the filling process, separating the measurement function (container on load cell) from the filling action (movable filling element), thereby eliminating vibrations that disturb weight measurement.
2Ease of manufacture
If a free-jet filling tube is used for filling, then the filling process is simple, but turbulent filling occurs with high oxygen absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The filling element is designed with different opening configurations to create localized filling patterns. Instead of a single free-jet tube, the filling element can have multiple openings or specific geometries that direct the medium in controlled ways, creating laminar flow patterns that reduce oxygen absorption while maintaining filling efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a complex lifting mechanism is provided for the filling tube, then the filling tube can be moved, but precise insertion into the container is hardly possible and the mechanism is costly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the movement function from a complex lifting mechanism and applies it directly to the filling element. The filling element itself is made movable through a simplified mechanism that allows precise vertical movement and insertion into the container, eliminating the need for complex carrier systems and multiple moving components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical lifting mechanisms with a simplified movable filling element system. The filling element can be moved vertically through a straightforward mechanism that provides precise control, substituting the complex multi-component lifting system with a more direct and controllable approach.
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 and efficient filling of viscous media with reduced vibrations, allowing for accurate weight measurement during the filling process, minimizing oxygen absorption, and preventing the formation of air chambers, thus maintaining product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a weight measuring device which determines the weight of the container to be filled
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The apparatus (1) has a filling element (2) that is introduced into a mouth of a container (10) to be filled. A filling body of the filling element is configured such that liquid medium is directed onto a wall of the container. A connecting line (8) conveys the liquid medium from a reservoir (52) to the container. The filling element is movable relative to the container in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container. A guide device (20) guides the movement of the filling element. A valve device (12) is arranged in the connecting line between the reservoir and the container. An independent claim is also included for a method for filling a container with liquid medium i.e. viscous medium.