Sealing Element Sorting Chute with Notched Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure element preparation systems, such as cap feeders, face issues with incorrectly oriented or non-compliant caps, and rely on expensive compressed air for delivery, which is not suitable for sanitized environments.
Innovation Solution
A selection and sorting device with a chute system, including a notched wheel and movable fingers, that performs additional sorting and orientation before delivering caps to the capping station, using a mechanical conveyor mechanism to ensure correct orientation and height alignment without compressed air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a belt-type finishing machine or vibratory bowl feeder is used to prepare caps, then cap preparation is achieved, but misoriented or non-compliant caps are still delivered to the capping station
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary sorting and orientation of caps before they reach the capping station. The notched wheel and fingers pre-position caps in the correct orientation and eliminate misoriented ones in advance, ensuring only compliant caps are delivered to the capping station.
Solution Approach 2:
The notched wheel with fingers acts as an intermediary mechanism between the finishing machine and the capping station. It receives caps from the finishing machine, performs selection and orientation, and delivers only correctly oriented caps to the capping station, filtering out non-compliant caps in the process.
2Use of energy by moving object
If compressed air is used to propel caps in the pneumatic conveying device, then cap delivery to required height is achieved, but high energy cost and incompatibility with sanitized installations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the pneumatic conveying system (which uses compressed air) with a mechanical conveying system based on a notched wheel and fingers. This mechanical system propels caps through the transit channel and delivers them to the required height without using compressed air, thereby reducing energy costs and ensuring compatibility with sanitized installations.
3Reliability
If a selection and sorting device with notched wheel and fingers is added, then misoriented caps are eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notched wheel with fingers performs multiple functions within a single integrated structure: it conveys caps through the transit channel, orients them correctly, and eliminates misoriented caps. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices for each operation, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fingers are designed to be mobile between an active position (where they hold caps in notches) and an inactive position (where they release caps). This dynamic mechanism allows the same structure to perform both holding and releasing functions, simplifying the overall device design while maintaining reliable cap orientation and selection.
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 eliminates misoriented or non-compliant caps, ensures precise delivery to the capping station, and operates in a cost-effective and sanitary manner by using mechanical means, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of cap preparation.
Implementation Method 1
a circular transit channel (20) with an ejection window (33), said channel partially enclosing a notched wheel (21) with fingers (30) which hold, in their respective notches (22), the caps (2) which are correctly oriented and not defective
Implementation Method 2
the ejection window (33) is located in the lower part of the device, so that plugs reaching the ejection window and not held by a finger fall out under their own weight
Implementation Method 3
the infeed section is designed to guide the plugs in a single line and extends above the transit channel. This allows the infeed section to act as a plug accumulator
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to a selecting and screening device (15) for sealing elements or for hollow stoppers intended for a sealing station (4), the device being provided in the form of a chute consisting of two portions: a feed portion (17) and an outlet portion (18), and, between said two portions, a transit channel (20) forming an arc and comprising an ejection window (33), wherein said outlet portion (18) is to be connected to the sealing station (4), said channel (20) partially encloses a wheel (21) provided with notches (22) that match the size of said stoppers (2), and the wheel (21) is associated with pins (30), characterized in that the function of said pins (30) is to support the stoppers (2) in the respective notch (22) thereof as the former pass in front of said ejection window (33), if said stoppers are correctly oriented and not defective, and in that said outlet portion (18) is intended to convey said properly oriented and non-defective stoppers.