Packing Tulip Insert Stiffening Element for Bottle Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packing bell inserts for bottles suffer from dimensional instability and uneven deformation under compressed air, leading to potential damage to bottles and the inability to integrate an ejection mechanism due to complex geometry and high overall height of the pressure piston.
Innovation Solution
A packing bell insert with a dimensionally stable stiffening element connected to the pressure piston, which ensures uniform force transmission to the gripping part, allowing for compact dimensions and the integration of an ejection mechanism through a through-opening in the pressure piston.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure piston is designed with ribs or projections to maintain stability, then the pressure piston remains sufficiently stable under compressed air, but the overall height becomes relatively large and the geometry becomes complex, preventing integration of an ejection mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure piston is divided into two separate components: a cylindrical pressure piston body and a separate stiffening element with ribs. This segmentation allows the pressure piston to maintain stability through the stiffening element while keeping the overall geometry simple and compact, enabling integration of an ejection mechanism through the cylindrical body.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening element acts as an intermediary component that provides structural stability to the pressure piston without being integral to it. This mediator component allows the pressure piston to maintain its shape under compressed air while keeping the overall design simple and compact.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure piston has a relatively large overall height to maintain stability, then the pressure piston remains sufficiently stable under compressed air, but the packing bell insert becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pressure piston into a cylindrical body and a separate stiffening element, the design eliminates the need for excessive height in the pressure piston body. The stiffening element provides stability without increasing the overall height, enabling a compact packing bell insert design.
3Ease of operation
If the pressure piston is deformed axially under compressed air to grip the bottle neck, then the gripping part deforms to encompass the bottleneck, but uneven deformation occurs leading to potential damage to bottles
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening element serves as an intermediary that ensures uniform deformation of the gripping part. It distributes the axial force from compressed air evenly across the gripping part, preventing localized stress concentrations and potential damage to the bottle neck during gripping.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the pressure piston is designed with integral ribs to maintain shape, then the pressure piston retains its shape under pressure, but manufacturing tolerances cause twisting or tilting instead of even deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Separating the pressure piston from the stiffening element allows each component to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances. The stiffening element is added afterward to provide shape retention, eliminating the twisting and tilting issues that occur when ribs are integral to the pressure piston.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure piston combines a cylindrical body with a separate stiffening element to create a composite structure. This composite design provides shape retention while allowing for even deformation under pressure, as the stiffening element can be precisely positioned to distribute forces uniformly.
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
The solution provides improved dimensional stability and compact design, ensuring even deformation and protection of bottles, while enabling the use of an ejection mechanism for efficient handling of liquid containers.
Implementation Method 1
the packing bell inserts can encompass a bottleneck and be elastically deformed so that an inner surface of the packing bell insert rests against the bottleneck
Implementation Method 2
the plunger is pressurized with compressed air so that the plunger moves axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the insert
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The gripping tulip insert (10) has a pressure piston (12) that is integrally formed with a gripping portion (11). The pressure piston is fixedly connected to a dimensionally stable stiffening element (13). The stiffening element is arranged vertical to a longitudinal axis of the gripping portion. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a gripping tulip; and (2) a gripping device.