Pivoting Holding Arms for Ringless Bottle Closure Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container handling devices struggle to efficiently handle bottles without a support ring, leading to issues such as tamper-evident band damage and closure errors due to the absence of a support ring, which complicates the application of screw or press-on closures.

Innovation Solution

A device with pivoting and rotating holding arms that can be moved between open and closed positions, allowing for stable container handling and support without a support ring, featuring a carrier with first and second holding arms that pivot and rotate transversely to each other, enabling a larger support region and reducing the risk of closure errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional spike plates and fixed ramp rails are used to handle containers, then containers with support rings can be handled reliably, but containers without support rings suffer from tamper-evident band damage and handling instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling reliabilityVSAvoidtamper-evident band damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed rigid structures (fixed ramp rails and static spike plates) with dynamically adjustable holding arms that can adapt their position and configuration. The holding arms can move between different positions and angles to accommodate containers without support rings, preventing damage to tamper-evident bands while maintaining handling reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameters of the holding mechanism by allowing the holding arms to vary their spatial configuration, angle, and position. This enables the system to adapt to different container types (with or without support rings) and prevents the rigid contact that causes tamper-evident band damage in conventional fixed ramp rail systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If rigid spike plates are used to counteract torque during closure, then closure application is stable for containers with support rings, but containers without support rings experience closure errors and instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure application stabilityVSAvoidclosure application precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding arms provide dynamic stabilization during the closure process, adapting their position to maintain container stability without the rigid, fixed configuration of conventional spike plates. This allows precise control over container positioning and orientation throughout the closure operation, eliminating closure errors while maintaining application stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holding arms act as an intermediary mechanism between the container and the closure application system. Instead of direct rigid contact through fixed ramp rails, the adjustable holding arms mediate the torque counteraction and positioning functions, providing both stability and precision for containers without support rings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If fixed ramp rails are used to discharge containers, then discharge is efficient for conventional containers, but containers without support rings cannot be properly discharged without damaging the tamper-evident band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge efficiencyVSAvoidtamper-evident band damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The holding arms provide dynamic discharge functionality, moving from a closed holding position to an open discharge position. This replaces the fixed ramp rail system with a movable mechanism that can gently release containers without the rigid, damaging contact of fixed rails, maintaining both discharge efficiency and tamper-evident band integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If the holding mechanism is designed for containers with support rings, then handling is simple and reliable, but adapting to containers without support rings requires complex modifications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling mechanism complexityVSAvoidcontainer type adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The holding arms are designed with multi-functionality, capable of handling both containers with support rings and containers without support rings. By making the holding mechanism itself adaptable through adjustable positions and configurations, the system achieves versatility without requiring complex external modifications or separate handling systems for different container types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12503349B2Device for holding a container, and closing device

Publication Date: 2025.12.23 KRONES AG

AI summary

A device for holding a container in a container handling device, for example for holding a bottle without a support ring while a screw closure or a press-on closure is applied, including a carrier and a first holding arm and a second holding arm, which are arranged on the carrier and are configured to hold the container, wherein the first holding arm and the second holding arm are arranged on the carrier in such a way that they can be moved between an open position for receiving and releasing the container and a closed position for holding the container, wherein, for movement between the closed position and the open position, the first holding arm and the second holding arm can each be pivoted about a pivoting axis and rotated about a rotation axis oriented transversely to the pivoting axis.