Rotary Deflection Mechanism for Container Closure Conveying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for promoting container closures, such as screw caps or crown corks, face challenges in ensuring correct orientation during transport and emptying the conveyor channel efficiently, leading to unnecessary wear, energy consumption, and loss of reusable closures.
Innovation Solution
A device with a conveyor channel featuring a rotary-moving deflection mechanism that allows for easy emptying by redirecting container closures to an outlet opening, reducing the need for dry runs and enabling the collection of closures for reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the conveying channel is emptied by running the system dry, then the closures can be removed for cleaning or changeover, but this causes unnecessary wear and tear and additional energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet flap is made movable (pivoting capability) rather than fixed, allowing it to be dynamically adjusted between a closed position (during normal operation) and an open position (for emptying). This dynamic element enables the system to switch between operational modes without requiring complete system shutdown or dry running, thereby reducing energy consumption and wear.
2Ease of manufacture
If the outlet flap is made manually pivotable for emptying, then the conveying channel can be emptied, but under spatial constraints this causes accessibility problems
Solution Approach 1:
A remote actuating mechanism (such as a cable, linkage, or pneumatic/hydraulic actuator) is introduced as an intermediary between the operator and the outlet flap. This allows the flap to be opened from a remote, accessible location rather than requiring direct manual access to the constrained area where the flap is located, thus solving the accessibility problem while maintaining the emptying function.
3Ease of manufacture
If the conveying channel is emptied by dry running, then closures can be removed, but they cannot be collected and fall to the ground making reuse impossible for hygienic reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet flap is extracted as a separate, controllable component that can be independently opened to direct closures into a collection container. By separating the emptying function from the conveying function and providing controlled access, closures can be extracted cleanly and directed into appropriate receptacles, preventing them from falling to the ground and maintaining their reusability from a hygienic perspective.
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 allows for efficient and energy-saving emptying of the conveyor channel, significantly reducing the number of closures transported during dry runs, minimizing wear and energy consumption, and enabling the reuse of container closures.
Implementation Method 1
the deflection element can be moved by means of a rotational movement about an axis of rotation from at least one home position to at least one discharge position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for conveying container closures (2), comprising a conveying channel (4), which extends along a main axis (HA) and has at least one sliding surface (11), which forms a channel base, and at least a first and a second guiding surface (5, 6), wherein the guiding surfaces (5, 6) are arranged opposite one another laterally along the channel base for the purpose of guiding the container closures (2) conveyed in a conveying direction (FR). The apparatus (1) comprises a leading-out device (3) for leading the container closures (2) out of the conveying channel (4). The leading-out device (3) has at least one deflecting arrangement (7) with at least one rotatable deflecting element (8), wherein the deflecting element (8) can be moved from at least one basic position (P1) into at least one leading-out position (P2) by means of rotational movement about an axis of rotation (DA). The deflecting element (8) has a first and a second wall (8.1, 8.2) and, in the basic position (P1) of the deflecting element (8), these walls form a respective first and second guiding-surface portion (5a, 6a) as part of the first and the second guiding surface (5, 6) of the conveying channel (4). In the leading-out position (P2), the deflecting element (8) exposes an outlet opening (9) in the conveying channel (4).