Portable Sanitary Fill Head With Telescopic Fitment Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aseptic fill heads are expensive, complex, and not portable, making it difficult to transport bulk aseptic bags for filling and emptying flowable products, especially when the bag is within a processing apparatus like an HPP container.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, portable filler head apparatus with a cylindrical outer housing and a telescopic inner cylinder that slides and rotates to align a transfer tube or fitment cap assembly with the container fitment, using cam grooves and actuating systems for controlled movement and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current aseptic fill heads are used, then filling and emptying can be performed, but the device is expensive, complex and too heavy to be readily portable
Solution Approach 1:
The fill head is divided into separate functional modules: an outer housing, an inner telescoping cylinder, a transfer tube assembly, and a fitment cap assembly. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently positioned by the actuating system, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner cylinder is designed to telescopically slide within the outer housing, allowing dynamic adjustment of the transfer tube and fitment cap positions. This dynamic structure enables the fill head to adapt to different filling/emptying scenarios while maintaining a compact, portable form factor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bag is disposed within a processing apparatus like an HPP container, then the product can be processed, but the bag cannot be easily brought to the location of the fill head
Solution Approach 1:
The fill head is designed with universal adaptability to work with containers in various locations, including within HPP processing apparatus. The actuating system can position the transfer tube and fitment cap to engage with the container fitment regardless of the container's location, enabling filling and emptying operations in-situ.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping inner cylinder acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fill head housing and the container fitment. It extends to reach the container opening and retracts to disengage, enabling the fill head to interact with containers in confined spaces like HPP processors without requiring the container to be moved.
3Productivity
If the inner cylinder is advanced to the distal end, then the transfer tube can engage the fitment, but the fitment cap assembly must be repositioned
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating system automatically manages the positioning of both the transfer tube and fitment cap assembly through a coordinated control mechanism. When the inner cylinder advances, the system self-adjusts to position the transfer tube at the fitment; when retracting, it self-adjusts to position the fitment cap assembly, eliminating the need for manual intervention and maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating system operates in periodic cycles: advancing the inner cylinder to position the transfer tube for filling, then retracting to position the fitment cap assembly for sealing. This periodic automated action maintains high productivity while managing the complexity through systematic control sequences.
Data Source
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AI summary
A filler head apparatus 20 for hygienically filling and emptying containers 22 through a fitment 24 incorporated with the container 22 includes a cylindrical outer housing 30 for receiving a hollow bore inner cylinder 32 which is actuated to simultaneously reciprocate and rotate about a central axis 33 within the outer housing. A transfer tube assembly 34 is mounted to the inner cylinder 32 to travel with the inner cylinder between an extended position engaged with the fitment 24 and a retracted position disengage from the fitment. When the transfer tube assembly is engaged with the fitment, flowable content or product may be transferred to or from the container 22. A fitment cap assembly 36 is also mounted to the inner cylinder 22 to travel with the inner cylinder to remove the cap 38 of the fitment 24 prior to either filling or emptying the container 22, and then to retract to a standby position while the container is filled/emptied, and thereafter replacing the fitment cap after filling/emptying has been completed.