Sealed Packaging Adjuster for Aseptic Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging machines face misalignment issues due to factors like conveyor chain stretch and carton skewing, which can lead to improper sealing and contamination risks in clean, ultra-clean, or aseptic environments, necessitating an adjustable top sealing mechanism that maintains hygiene and prevents leakage or microbial penetration.
Innovation Solution
A positioning assembly with adjustable stainless steel components, including threaded screws and sealing arrangements, allows for precise alignment of the top sealing mechanism, utilizing anti-seizing compounds to prevent seizing and ensuring cleanliness by minimizing the risk of contamination and leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stainless steel adjusters with threaded screws are used for positioning the top sealing mechanism, then the ability to adjust and align the mechanism is improved, but the risk of seizing-up and microbial contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the adjuster components by introducing a separate sealing arrangement (glands and seals) that isolates the threaded screw interfaces. This allows the adjuster to maintain its positioning function while preventing contamination of the internal environment, effectively separating the adjustment mechanism from the clean environment it serves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sealing glands and seals as intermediary elements between the adjuster components and the internal environment. These intermediaries prevent direct contact between cleaning fluids/microorganisms and the threaded screw interfaces, allowing adjustment functionality while protecting the clean environment from contamination.
2Ease of operation
If multiple fixed and moving parts are used in the adjuster to enable positioning, then the positioning capability is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the adjuster into distinct functional portions: a first portion for mounting to fixed structure, a second portion for mounting to movable structure, and a third portion containing the adjustment mechanism. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and maintenance of the complex positioning system.
3Reliability
If anti-seizing compound is applied to prevent seizing of screw actions, then the reliability of adjustment is improved, but the risk of contamination and leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the potential contamination source (anti-seizing compound and screw interfaces) from the clean environment by enclosing them within sealed portions of the adjuster. The sealing arrangement isolates these elements, allowing anti-seizing compound to be applied for reliability without creating contamination risks in the internal environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing glands and seals act as intermediaries that prevent the anti-seizing compound from migrating into the clean environment. This allows the compound to perform its function of preventing seizing at the screw interfaces while the seals block any potential contamination path to the internal environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sealed adjuster (24) has a first portion (34) fixed to a first structure, a second portion (36) fixed to a second structure (30), and a manually operable third portion (38) adjustable to change the position of the first portion (34) relative to the second portion (36) such that, as the position of the first portion (34) is changed relative to the second portion (36), the position of the first structure is changed relative to the position of the second structure (30). The adjuster (24) also has a sealing arrangement (88, 90, 92, 96 and 116) for providing sealing among the first portion (34), the second portion (36), and the third portion (38).