Servo-Driven Container Filling Apparatus with Linear Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container-filling technologies, such as those using chain-driven conveyor arrangements, face challenges in achieving precise control and efficient return of container carriers to the upstream filling area, often requiring accurate positioning and mechanisms like elevators and gear drives, which can be cumbersome and prone to issues like drive chain stretching.
Innovation Solution
A container-filling apparatus utilizing servo-driven components, including a pair of transfer wheels and linear actuators, allows for precise and efficient positioning and indexing of container carriers, eliminating the need for elevators and accurate positioning mechanisms, and enabling faster carrier transport and easier setup by using a combination of servo-driven transfer wheels and linear actuators to move carriers along an upper guideway and return them via a lower conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If chain-driven conveyor arrangements are used, then containers can be transported through the filling area, but precise control of container carriers is difficult and return to upstream region is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the carrier transport into separate functional segments: transfer wheels for vertical transfer between levels, linear actuators for horizontal positioning along the guideway, and a return conveyor for upstream transport. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, achieving precise positioning while maintaining efficient carrier return.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional chain-driven mechanical conveyor systems with a hybrid system using transfer wheels and linear actuators. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous chain drive mechanisms, enabling more precise control of carrier positioning and more efficient return operations through independently controllable components.
2Manufacturing precision
If elevators and gear drives are used for positioning, then accurate carrier positioning is achieved, but the system becomes cumbersome and prone to mechanical issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates problematic mechanical components (elevators and gear drives) from the system. Instead of using these complex mechanisms for positioning, the invention employs transfer wheels for vertical movement and linear actuators for horizontal positioning, thereby achieving the required positioning accuracy while reducing overall system complexity and mechanical failure risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transfer wheels as intermediary components between the carrier transport and positioning systems. These transfer wheels serve as mediators that enable smooth vertical transfer and positioning without requiring complex elevators or gear drives, thus simplifying the overall drive system while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Productivity
If traditional conveyor systems are used, then containers can be filled, but setup is difficult and flexibility for differently sized containers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where linear actuators can adjust carrier positions along the guideway in real-time. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to different container sizes and filling requirements without changing the overall conveyor structure, thereby maintaining high filling speeds while improving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer wheels and linear actuators form a universal positioning system that can handle various container types and sizes. The same basic infrastructure (guideway, transfer wheels, actuators) serves multiple functions: vertical transfer, horizontal positioning, and adaptation to different container dimensions, eliminating the need for separate specialized mechanisms for each container type.
Data Source
AI summary
A filling apparatus for filling containers, and a method of operation, are disclosed, whereby a plurality of container carriers are movable along an upper container guideway of the apparatus. Notably, a pair of servo drives in the form of linear actuators act generally in opposition to each other, at opposites ends to the container carriers movable along the container guideway, to accurately index and position the container carriers with respect to associated filling equipment. Servo-driven transfer wheels, positioned at respective opposite ends of the upper container guideway, effect movement of the containers to and from a return conveyor positioned beneath the upper container guideway, whereby the container carriers are moved from the downstream end of the filling region back to the upstream end thereof.