Rotating Alignment Body for Preform Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separating devices for preforms in blow molding machines often result in reduced throughput due to misaligned preforms being discarded, leading to gaps in the preform flow and inefficiencies in high-performance machines.
Innovation Solution
A separating device with a rotating alignment body, such as a star-shaped rotary body, that corrects the position of misaligned preforms without disturbing the flow of correctly aligned ones, ensuring they are hung between conveyor rollers, and is adjustable to accommodate varying preform sizes and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If misaligned preforms are discarded using conventional separating devices, then separation accuracy is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to gaps in preform flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of misaligned preforms (which cause flow interruptions) into a beneficial alignment process. The rotating body with fingers actively corrects misaligned preforms by applying mechanical force to reposition them, transforming what was previously a defect into an opportunity for automatic correction without discarding any preforms, thus maintaining continuous flow and high productivity
2Manufacturing precision
If a rotating body protrudes into the movement path of all preforms, then alignment capability is improved, but harmful effects increase due to disturbance of correctly aligned preforms
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating body is designed with fingers that selectively interact only with misaligned preforms. The fingers are positioned and dimensioned to engage specifically with preforms that are out of alignment, applying correction force only where needed. Correctly aligned preforms pass through the gaps between fingers without contact, thus achieving local alignment action without disturbing the overall flow of properly positioned preforms
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 device effectively aligns misaligned preforms, maintaining high throughput and preventing interruptions in the preform flow, even in high-performance machines, by applying an alignment force specifically to misaligned preforms without affecting correctly positioned ones.
Implementation Method 1
the rotating body being designed to exert an aligning force on misaligned preforms
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
Separator device (5) for preforms (24) with an alignment device (21) for handling incorrectly aligned preforms (25, 30), wherein the separator device (5) is designed as a roller sorter with two transport rollers (20) rotating in opposite directions to one another, between which rollers preforms (24) are transported in a conveying direction, in a suspended manner and with an intended alignment, wherein the alignment device (21) has a rotating body (22) mounted rotatably about an axis, which body is arranged above the roller sorter in such a manner that the rotating body (22) projects into the movement path of incorrectly aligned preforms (25, 30), wherein the rotating body (22) is designed to exert an alignment force on incorrectly aligned preforms (25, 30), and wherein the rotating body (22) also projects into the movement path of the preforms (24) with the intended alignment and is therefore designed and arranged to exert an alignment force only on incorrectly aligned preforms (25, 30).