Radial Gear Alignment for Packaging System Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The alignment issues between the axes of gears in collector devices and packaging systems often result in high frictional forces, making it difficult or impossible to combine them effectively due to manufacturing tolerances and uneven surfaces.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves designing the toothing of the drive transmission element and the counter toothing of the drive transmission counter element with external teeth, allowing for radial alignment rather than axial, with additional features like stop and guide surfaces for precise alignment and adjusting projections for fine adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If axial alignment of gear axes is used for combining collector device with packaging system, then drive transmission engagement can be achieved, but high frictional forces occur due to manufacturing tolerances and alignment inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive transmission engagementVSAvoidcombination difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from axial alignment (one-dimensional approach along the gear axis) to radial alignment (two-dimensional approach in the radial plane). By arranging both toothing elements with external teeth and enabling radial approach, the system gains an additional degree of freedom for alignment, making the combination process tolerant of manufacturing tolerances and surface irregularities while maintaining reliable meshing engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If external teeth are used for both drive transmission element and counter element, then radial alignment is enabled with tolerance for inaccuracies, but the gear design becomes different from conventional axial engagement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment toleranceVSAvoidgear configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of gear engagement by using external teeth for both elements instead of the conventional internal-external tooth configuration. This parameter change enables radial alignment and provides tolerance for manufacturing inaccuracies, while the tooth geometry is specifically designed with circumferentially wide spaces and narrow tooth tips to facilitate smooth radial meshing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4488203A1Combination of a packaging installation with a functional device that can be provided with said packaging installation
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 SOMIC VERPACKUNGSMASCH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4488203A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4488203A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4488203A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a combination (100) of a packaging system (102) with a functional device (104) associated therewith, wherein the packaging system (102) has at least one drive transmission element (110) with a toothing (110a) and the functional device (104) has at least one drive transmission counter element (112) with a counter toothing (112a) which, in an operational combined state of packaging system (102) and functional device (104), meshes with the external toothing (110) of the drive transmission element (110).According to the invention, both the toothing (110a) of the drive transmission element (110) and the mating toothing (112a) of the drive transmission counter element (112) are external teeth, wherein the drive transmission counter element (112) is arranged radially outside the drive transmission element (110) in the operational combined state of packaging system (102) and functional device (104) with respect to an axis of rotation of the drive transmission element (110), preferably radially above the drive transmission element (110).