Packing Bell With Segmented Air Circuits for Bottle Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle lifting machines face issues with damaged bottles being picked up, leading to process disruptions, increased air consumption, and reduced efficiency due to compromised sealing and air cushion failure, necessitating manual sorting and high personnel costs.
Innovation Solution
The packing bell design separates test air and gripper air, using a pressurizable piston for axial force to grip bottles, with reduced air pressure for testing and a self-locking gripper mechanism to prevent damaged bottles from being lifted, incorporating concentric air lines and a control system for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the same air pressure is used for both gripping and testing bottles, then the testing function is achieved, but air consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air supply system into two separate circuits: a first circuit for gripping bottles at high pressure and a second circuit for testing bottles at low pressure. This segmentation allows each circuit to operate independently with optimized pressure levels, achieving reliable damage detection while significantly reducing overall air consumption compared to using high pressure for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different air pressures to different functional areas: high pressure (for gripping) in the gripping area and low pressure (for testing) in the testing area. This local quality approach ensures that each function receives the appropriate pressure level needed for its specific purpose, optimizing both performance and resource efficiency.
2Force
If high air pressure is used for gripping bottles, then reliable gripping is achieved, but the sealing element cannot maintain proper seal due to counteracting test air pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the gripping function and sealing function into different pressure circuits. The first air circuit provides high pressure for gripping force generation, while the second air circuit provides low pressure for testing without interfering with the sealing element's ability to maintain proper seal against the bottle mouth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies high pressure locally to the gripping mechanism while maintaining low pressure in the testing circuit, allowing the sealing element to function properly without being counteracted by high test air pressure. This localized pressure differentiation resolves the conflict between gripping force and sealing reliability.
3Reliability
If the packing head is made heavier to ensure proper sealing, then sealing reliability improves, but travel speed decreases and drive requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical solution (increasing packing head weight) with a pneumatic solution (using controlled air pressure in the second circuit). Instead of relying on gravitational force from a heavier head to maintain sealing, the system uses regulated low-pressure air to achieve proper sealing, thereby reducing the need for excessive weight and enabling faster travel speeds with smaller drives.
4Ease of operation
If the elastic sleeve is used for gripping bottles, then gripping function is achieved, but the sleeve is damaged by defective or sharp-edged bottle mouths causing air cushion failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs a preliminary testing action before gripping. The low-pressure test air is introduced through the second circuit to detect damaged bottles in advance. Only bottles that pass the testing phase are subsequently gripped by the elastic sleeve, preventing the sleeve from contacting and being damaged by defective or sharp-edged bottle mouths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using test air to identify and exclude damaged bottles before the gripping process begins. This preliminary detection prevents the harmful interaction between the elastic sleeve and defective bottle surfaces, protecting the sleeve from damage and maintaining air cushion stability.
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
This design enhances process reliability and reduces air consumption, allowing for increased travel speed and smaller drive requirements, while maintaining effective sealing and preventing damaged bottles from being lifted, thus improving overall machine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The opening cross-section of the gripper insert (2.1) is narrowed by introducing an axial compressive force into the gripper insert (2.1) by means of a pressurizable piston (3)
Implementation Method 2
The sealing element (6) can be displaced against the force of a spring element (6.4) from an initial position into an end position
Implementation Method 3
the air space between the elastic sleeve and the cup-shaped housing be connected to the interior of the bottle to equalize pressure
Implementation Method 4
The packing bell has a pot- or bell-shaped housing with a receiving opening for the bottles to be gripped. Inside the housing, an elastic sleeve is usually arranged, which can be pressed against the neck of the bottle to be gripped using compressed air.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a packing bell for the head-end selective gripping of bottles with a mouth having an opening, comprising a pot-shaped housing with a receiving opening for the bottle to be gripped, a gripper arranged in the housing for gripping the bottle in the region of its mouth, and a sealing element arranged in the housing with a sealing surface, designed to pressure-tightly close the opening of the bottle to be gripped. In order to reduce impairment of the function of the packing bell due to damage and to improve the efficiency and process reliability of the gripping process when using the packing bell in a bottle lifting machine, it is proposed to temporarily pressurize the interior of the bottle to be tested with test air via a separate test air line using a control system.The gripper is actuated via an additional control system, depending on the test air pressure established in a separate return air line. The separation of test air and gripper air allows the use of a sleeve-shaped, elastically deformable gripper insert, which is narrowed in cross-section by a pressurizable, axially displaceable piston, gripping the bottle neck. This separation allows for a test air pressure that is significantly lower than the gripper air pressure. This significantly reduces the air consumption required to operate the packing bell.