Pivotable Wall Element for Machine Guard Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost associated with manufacturing individually adapted machine protection openings for container treatment machines, which are required for occupational safety, hinder cost-effective series production due to the variety of designs needed for different treatment modules.
Innovation Solution
A connecting element with a pivotable wall element and adjustable holder system that can be standardized in size, allowing for flexible adaptation to various machine guard openings, eliminating the need for precise manufacturing and enabling the use of standard designs across different container treatment machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If machine protection openings are individually manufactured for each treatment module, then occupational safety requirements are met, but production complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a standardized machine guard with universal opening positions and sizes that can accommodate different treatment modules. Instead of creating unique machine guards for each module, a single standardized design serves multiple functions across various container treatment machines, reducing production complexity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the machine guard opening edges adjustable rather than fixed. The opening edges can be positioned at different locations and orientations to adapt to different treatment module requirements, allowing a single standardized machine guard design to meet diverse occupational safety needs without individual customization
2Reliability
If machine protection openings are precisely manufactured for each treatment module, then occupational safety is ensured, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The standardized machine guard design with universal opening configurations allows a single manufacturing process to produce guards suitable for multiple treatment modules, eliminating the need for costly individualized production while maintaining safety standards through proven design configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable opening edges enable a single standardized machine guard to adapt to different treatment module requirements through repositioning rather than remanufacturing, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while ensuring occupational safety is maintained for each application
3Ease of manufacture
If standardized machine guard designs are used, then production costs decrease, but adaptability to different treatment modules is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The machine guard incorporates dynamically adjustable opening edges that can be repositioned to different locations and orientations. This dynamic capability allows a standardized, cost-effective machine guard design to adapt to various treatment module configurations, maintaining versatility without requiring individualized manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The machine guard is segmented into modular components with independently adjustable opening edges. This segmentation allows the standardized guard to be configured for different treatment modules by adjusting specific opening positions rather than redesigning the entire guard, maintaining both cost-effectiveness and adaptability
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 cost-effective production of machine guards with optimal occupational safety by allowing for standardization of machine protection openings, reducing production complexity and increasing adaptability to different treatment module sizes and positions.
Implementation Method 1
the wall element (16) of the connecting element (15) acts resiliently against the treatment module (9) or its protective covering (9.1), with the spring means (30, 31) acting directly or indirectly on the wall element (16)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a connection or adapter element for use on a machine guard opening (14, 25) of a machine casing or of a machine guard (12, 12a) of a container treatment machine (1, 1a) for bridging a transition between the machine guard (12, 12a) and a treatment module (9) provided at the machine guard opening or a protective casing (9.1) on the module, characterized by at least one holder (19, 26) which is fastenable to an opening periphery (14.1, 25.1) of the machine guard opening (14, 25), and by at least one wall element (16) which is provided in a pivotable manner on the holder (19).