Sealer Lid Guide Rails for Rotor-Free Can Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current can sealing technologies face inefficiencies due to interfering contours on gassing rotors, limited versatility in accommodating different can shapes, and difficulty in cleaning, leading to high tool change times and hygiene issues.
Innovation Solution
A feeding device with a movable movement device and a lid guide comprising first and second guide surfaces, allowing the lid to be supported and moved between these surfaces, eliminating the need for a gassing rotor and enabling easy adaptation to various can formats, while a gassing device is integrated at the rails for improved hygiene and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gassing rotor is used to supply gas to the can and guide the lid, then the can can be gassed and the lid can be transported, but the rotor creates interfering contours that complicate efficient gassing and limit versatility for different can shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gassing function from the lid transport mechanism by introducing a separate gassing device positioned at the rails. This eliminates the need for a gassing rotor, removing the interfering contours that limited versatility. The lid is now transported solely by the movement device along the rails, while gas is supplied independently through the gassing device, allowing accommodation of various can shapes without rotor interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the lid providing function into two independent components: a movement device for transporting the lid along rails, and a separate gassing device for supplying gas to the can. This segmentation removes the conflicting requirements of the previous integrated rotor system, enabling both efficient gassing and versatile lid guidance for different can formats.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is supported on the movement device, then the lid can be transported, but the rotor structure creates hygiene issues and cleaning difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the lid support function from the rotating movement device and transfers it to the stationary rails. The lid now rests on and is guided by the rails, which are fixed structures that are much easier to clean and maintain hygiene standards compared to a rotating rotor. The movement device only provides propulsion along the rails, eliminating the complex rotor structure that created cleaning difficulties.
3Productivity
If a gassing rotor is used, then gas can be supplied to the can, but tool change times are increased due to limited versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal lid guidance system using stationary rails that can accommodate various can formats without requiring tool changes. The rails provide a standardized guide path that works with different can shapes, while the gassing device can be independently adjusted. This multi-functional setup eliminates the need for frequent rotor changes, thereby reducing tool change times and improving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adjustability and flexibility into the system through the separate gassing device that can be positioned and configured for different can formats. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to various production requirements without physical tool changes, reducing downtime and improving overall productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A feeding device for a sealer for guiding a lid to a container includes a movement device arranged such that the lid is able to be moved by the movement device, and a lid guide arranged at the movement device for guiding the lid to the container. The lid guide includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface, and the lid can be arranged between the first guide surface and the second guide surface such that the lid is capable of being guided to the container by relative movement of the movement device to the first and second guide surfaces.