Shared Power Converter for Beverage Container Sealing Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current container closing systems in beverage bottling plants are costly and complex, with high maintenance efforts due to a one-to-one assignment of servomotors and power converters for each closing element, leading to inefficient use of resources and increased probability of failure.
Innovation Solution
A device and method utilizing a power control device to supply power signals to multiple actuators, including servomotors, via a single power signal line, with a power signal switch to selectively actuate only necessary closing elements, reducing the number of required power control devices and simplifying the system architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each closing element is equipped with a dedicated servomotor and power converter, then reliable actuation of each closing element is ensured, but the system complexity and maintenance effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple closing elements share a common power converter instead of each having a dedicated one. The power converter can selectively supply power to different actuators based on which closing element needs to be actuated, reducing the total number of power converters from N (one per closing element) to 1 (shared by all), thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining actuation reliability
Solution Approach 2:
A single power converter is designed to serve multiple closing elements universally. The power converter can switch between different actuators and closing elements, making one device perform the function of multiple dedicated devices, thus reducing overall system complexity without compromising the reliability of individual closing element actuation
2Ease of operation
If each closing element has its own power converter, then independent control of each actuator is achieved, but the number of components and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power supply functions are merged into a single power converter. The power converter maintains independent control capability through selective power supply to different actuators while reducing the number of components that need maintenance from N power converters to 1 shared power converter
Solution Approach 2:
The power converter acts as an intermediary that receives actuation requests and selectively distributes power to the appropriate actuator. This intermediary approach maintains independent control of each closing element while using a single shared power supply component, reducing maintenance effort
3Reliability
If a power signal line is assigned to each actuator, then reliable power supply is ensured, but the cable management and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple power signal lines are merged into a single common power signal line that serves all actuators. The power converter connected to this single line can selectively supply power to different actuators as needed, reducing cable management complexity from N separate lines to 1 shared line while maintaining power supply reliability through selective activation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Device and method for closing containers with a closure, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the device comprises: several closing elements (10), each having an actuator (11) and designed and configured to close an associated container with a closure by actuating the actuator (11); at least one power control device (12), which is connectable to one of the actuators (11) via a power signal line (13) and is designed and configured to supply the actuator (11) with a power signal (L) to drive it; and at least one power signal switch (14), which is designed and configured to selectively supply the power signal (L) to at least two actuators (11) of different closing elements (10).