Pressure Plate Clamping to Prevent Container Rotation During Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the container manufacturing industry, processes such as trimming, threading, and spin forming often apply undesirable rotational forces to containers, leading to defects like incomplete trims, malformed threads, or curls.
Innovation Solution
A processing turret with a starwheel and pressure plate assembly that includes resilient devices over guide pins, which compress and decompress to inhibit rotational motion of containers during processing, preventing rotation and ensuring accurate shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional processing operations (trimming, threading, spin forming) are applied to containers, then processing operations can be completed, but rotational forces are applied to the container causing defects
Solution Approach 1:
A non-rotating processing device is introduced as an intermediary between the rotating starwheel and the container. This device remains stationary while the starwheel rotates, allowing processing operations to be performed without applying rotational forces to the container. The processing device acts as a mediator that transfers the processing function without the harmful rotational motion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the processing device with the starwheel (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the processing device stationary and allowing the starwheel to rotate. This inversion eliminates the rotational forces applied to the container while maintaining the productivity benefits of the rotating starwheel mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If a rotating processing device is used with the starwheel, then processing operations can be performed, but rotational forces cause incomplete trims and malformed threads
Solution Approach 1:
A stationary processing device serves as an intermediary that performs trimming and threading operations without rotating. This mediator device receives the container from the rotating starwheel, performs the required processing operations in a stationary position, and returns the processed container to the starwheel, thereby ensuring high-quality trims and threads.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is segmented into two independent functional components: the rotating starwheel that handles container transport and positioning, and the stationary processing device that handles the actual processing operations. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without the negative effects of rotation on the processed container.
3Productivity
If the processing device rotates with the starwheel, then processing can be continuous, but rotational forces create malformed curls and defects
Solution Approach 1:
A stationary processing device acts as an intermediary that maintains container structural integrity during continuous processing. The device remains fixed while the starwheel continuously presents containers for processing, allowing high productivity without compromising the stability and structural integrity of the container through rotational forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional approach of rotating the processing device is inverted by keeping the processing device stationary and the starwheel rotating. This inversion maintains continuous processing capability while preserving container structural integrity by eliminating rotational forces during the actual processing operations.
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 effectively reduces or eliminates rotational forces on containers, thereby minimizing defects and ensuring precise processing operations, such as trimming, threading, and spin forming, by maintaining the container's stability during these processes.
Implementation Method 1
at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective at least two guide pins. When the processing turret is in a first position, the at least two resilient devices are compressed, and when the processing turret is in a second position, the at least two resilient devices are generally uncompressed.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for inhibiting rotational motion of an article to be processed comprises a pressure plate assembly including a generally ring-shaped guide assembly. The guide assembly has and at least two guide pins extending from a first side in a transverse direction. The guide assembly further includes at least two resilient devices positioned over a respective one of the at least two guide pins and a container guide having an aperture for receiving an open end of a container moving in a first direction and for aligning the open end with a processing device. The container guide is positioned adjacent to the first side of the pressure plate assembly. At least two resilient devices are configured to be compressed in response to movement of the container guide in a first direction and are configured to decompress in response to movement of the container guide in a second, generally opposite direction.