Rotatable Buffer Surface for Beverage Container Closures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing buffer systems in beverage bottling plants suffer from high wear and inefficiency due to gravity-driven designs, leading to deformation and increased energy requirements to overcome height differences, resulting in complex constructions and high dynamic pressure.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable buffer surface, such as a disk or ring, is used to minimize the distance container closures need to travel, utilizing centrifugal force for gentle handling and reducing dynamic pressure, allowing for low-wear operation and efficient energy use by avoiding additional height differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gravity-driven buffer systems are used to buffer container closures, then buffer capacity is provided, but high back pressure generates large forces at the outlet causing deformation and high wear on container closures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies equipotentiality by designing a buffer system where container closures move horizontally at the same elevation throughout the buffering process. The buffer chamber is positioned at a constant height with inlet and outlet openings at the same level, eliminating gravitational potential energy changes. This prevents the accumulation of back pressure that occurs in vertical gravity-driven systems, thereby avoiding deformation and excessive wear on the container closures while maintaining effective buffer capacity.
2Reliability
If extensive transport routes or long chute systems are used to provide buffer capacity, then appropriate buffer capacity is provided, but the space required is disadvantageous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from linear/extensive buffer designs to a compact three-dimensional buffer chamber. By utilizing vertical space efficiently and creating a volumetric storage region rather than a linear transport path, the system achieves substantial buffer capacity within a minimized footprint. The buffer chamber allows container closures to be stored in a compact arrangement rather than requiring long horizontal transport routes.
3Ease of operation
If height differences are overcome using blow conveyors, conveyor belts, or waterfall conveyors, then height differences are resolved, but energy consumption increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for height difference compensation mechanisms by designing the entire buffer system to operate at a constant elevation. The inlet opening, buffer chamber, and outlet opening are all positioned at the same height, allowing container closures to move horizontally throughout the system. This eliminates the requirement for blow conveyors, conveyor belts, or waterfall conveyors, thereby reducing both energy consumption and system complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
4Loss of energy
If container closures are lifted to greater height from the outset to overcome gravity conveying loss, then gravity conveying is enabled, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates gravitational energy losses by maintaining all components of the buffer system at the same elevation. Container closures enter the buffer chamber horizontally at a given height and exit horizontally at the same height, experiencing no change in gravitational potential energy. This eliminates the need for additional energy input to lift closures to greater heights, thereby minimizing both energy loss and energy consumption.
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 rotatable buffer surface minimizes wear on container closures, reduces the risk of deformation, and ensures trouble-free operation with low energy consumption, achieving a more efficient and compact buffering system.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing centrifugal force for gentle handling
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for buffering container closures (100), preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the device has an inlet (20) and an outlet (24), between which a rotatable and horizontally oriented buffer surface (3) for buffering the container closures (100) is arranged, wherein the inlet (20) opens onto the buffer surface (3).