Movable Lid Guide for Can Shape Flexibility and Easy Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can seamers face challenges with inefficient gassing due to interference contours, limited can shape variety, high tool change times, and difficult cleaning due to radially milled grooves for lid support.
Innovation Solution
A feed device with a movable movement device and stationary guide surfaces supports the lid, allowing for relative movement and easy adaptation to different can shapes, eliminating the need for a gassing rotor and enhancing cleaning accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gassing rotor with radially milled grooves is used to support lids, then the lids can be held and transported, but the grooves create interference contours that hinder efficient gassing and make cleaning difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful radially milled grooves from the lid support structure and replaces them with a smooth, groove-free surface. The lid support element features a purely radial contour without circumferential grooves, eliminating the interference contours that previously hindered gassing efficiency and made cleaning inaccessible.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of supporting lids with grooves that create interference, the invention inverts the approach by using a smooth radial surface that actively promotes efficient gassing. The gas can now flow freely under the lid without being blocked by grooves, while the smooth surface simultaneously enables easy cleaning.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a gassing rotor with fixed contours is used, then the lid support structure is stable, but it limits the variety of can shapes that can be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces dynamic adjustability to the lid support element, allowing its contour to be adapted to different can shapes. The support element can be adjusted radially and/or axially to accommodate various can dimensions, enabling the same stable structure to handle diverse can formats without compromising structural integrity.
3Reliability
If complex lid support structures with grooves are used, then lids can be securely held, but tool change times increase due to difficult cleaning and adaptation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the lid support function from the complex grooved structure, using a simple smooth radial surface for support while separating the adaptive functions into adjustable mechanisms. This segmentation allows the core support function to remain reliable while the adjustment mechanisms enable quick adaptation to different can formats, reducing overall tool change time.
4Ease of operation
If radially milled grooves are used for lid support, then the lids can be positioned, but the grooves create interference contours that disrupt gassing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the harmful grooves from the lid support surface, leaving only the essential radial contour needed for positioning. This removal of unnecessary features eliminates the interference contours that blocked gas flow, allowing efficient gassing while maintaining adequate lid positioning capability through the simplified smooth surface.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a feeding device (1) for a capper (1000) for guiding a lid (101) to a container (100), comprising a movement device (10) which is movably arranged such that the lid (101) can be moved by the movement device (10), and a lid guide (15A, 15B) arranged on the movement device (10) for guiding the lid (101) to the container (100). The lid guide (15A, 15B) comprises a first guide surface (22A) and a second guide surface (22B), wherein the lid (101) can be arranged between the first guide surface (22A) and the second guide surface (22B) such that the lid (101) can be guided to the container by the relative movement of the movement device (10) to the first guide surface (22A) and the second guide surface (22B).