Inclined Portioning Head for PT Closure Sealing Material Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines are unsuitable for easily introducing flowable materials into press-on twist-off (PT) container closures, particularly those made from PVC-free materials like thermoplastic elastomers.

Innovation Solution

A device with a flange-like portion and a cylindrical portion, featuring an inclined end side and specific angular configurations, is used to portion and position flowable sealing material into container closures, allowing for efficient introduction and shaping into PT closures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional machine with a cutting edge is used to introduce flowable sealing material into container closures, then the material can be portioned and transferred, but the process is difficult and inefficient for press-on twist-off (PT) container closures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of introducing flowable material into PT closureVSAvoidefficiency of material introduction process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device changes the geometric parameters of the introducing element by providing an inclined face (at an angle less than 90° to the axis) instead of a conventional cutting edge configuration. This parameter change enables the flowable material to be more easily introduced into PT closures while maintaining portioning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a cutting edge that moves downward to separate material (conventional approach), the invention inverts the approach by using an inclined face that facilitates material flow in the opposite direction, allowing easier introduction into the closure from above.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If the inclined face extends over a small portion of the end side, then the device structure is simpler, but the precision and control of material positioning is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of material positioningVSAvoidcomplexity of device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined face is applied locally to a specific portion of the end side (at least 50%, preferably at least 80% or 85% of the total surface area). This local quality approach provides sufficient precision for material positioning without requiring the entire device structure to be complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12454080B2Device for portioning and positioning a flowable material, machine comprising the device, and method for producing a container closure

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 SILGAN HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

Methods and devices for sizing and positioning fluid material, machine comprising the device and method for manufacturing a container closure are disclosed. A device for portioning and positioning a flowable sealing material, the device (100) having a flange-like portion (110) and a cylindrical portion (130), wherein (a) the flange-like portion (110) is connected to the cylindrical portion (130); (b) the cylindrical portion (130) has an end side (133) located at an end of the cylindrical portion (130) that faces away from the flange-like portion (110); and (c) the end side (133) has a face (134) that is inclined relative to an axis of the device (100) such that an angle (a) between the face (134) and the axis is less than 90°, and the face is inclined upwards and outwards.