One-Piece Container Guide Device for Hygienic Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container guide devices are difficult to produce, replace, and clean, especially in food industry settings where contamination is a concern due to their complex assembly and design.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece device with a flat section and multiple holding devices, each comprising a curved railing web connected to a railing support with holding arms, allowing for easy production, quick replacement, and enhanced cleanability by eliminating separate connecting means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components (base body, holding devices, railing supports, holding arms) are used to form the guide device, then the device can be assembled from modular parts, but the manufacturing complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the base body, holding devices, railing supports, and holding arms into a single integrally formed one-piece component. This eliminates the need for separate assembly of multiple parts, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the functional versatility of the guide device.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate components with connecting means are used, then the device can be assembled and disassembled, but the cleaning time and effort increase due to multiple connection areas
Solution Approach 1:
By forming all components as a single integrated piece, the patent eliminates multiple connection areas where contamination could accumulate. The one-piece construction allows the entire guide device to be cleaned as a single unit, significantly reducing cleaning time and effort while maintaining ease of installation and replacement.
3Manufacturing precision
If integrated format parts are used for specific container formats, then the guiding device is optimized for specific containers, but the replacement time increases when changing container types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the concept of format-specific guide devices but optimizes them as integrally formed one-piece components. This allows for quick replacement of entire format parts without dealing with complex assemblies, reducing replacement time when changing container types while preserving the guiding accuracy needed for specific formats.
4Ease of manufacture
If complex assembly with multiple parts is used, then the device can be manufactured with standardized components, but the production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent produces the guide device as a single integrally formed component, eliminating the need to assemble multiple standardized parts. This one-piece construction significantly reduces production time and manufacturing complexity while maintaining the ability to produce format-specific variations through integral design modifications.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (17) for guiding containers (19). In order to provide easy-to-produce and quick-changeover container-guiding apparatuses which are particularly unaffected by contamination and are easy to clean, provision is made for the apparatus (17) to comprise a main body (1), which has a surface-area portion (2) with a multiplicity of through-passages and/or recesses, with retaining means arranged in the through-passages, for the direct arrangement of guide rails (18) designed for guiding containers (19), wherein the surface-area portion (2) of the main body (1) and the retaining means are formed in one piece.