Shuttle Filling Assembly for Precise Oral Product Container Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently loading and filling containers with oral products, such as oral tobacco and cannabis products, due to inefficiencies in product transfer, container opening, and product distribution within the containers.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a container station and a shuttle assembly with a gate mechanism, guide block, and tampers to facilitate the transfer and distribution of oral products into containers, along with mechanisms for opening and securing lids, ensuring precise product placement and container filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a gate mechanism is used to retain and release oral products in the shuttle assembly, then product distribution precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gate mechanism is divided into multiple individual gates, each corresponding to a specific receptacle. Each gate can be independently actuated by its own actuator, allowing precise control over product release from each receptacle. This segmentation enables accurate product distribution while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The gates are designed to be movable between a first position (blocking the aperture) and a second position (allowing product discharge). The actuators dynamically adjust gate positions based on filling requirements, enabling precise control over when and how products are released into containers. This dynamic control improves distribution precision without requiring overly complex static structures.
2Measurement precision
If multiple actuators are used to control gates for each receptacle, then product transfer accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each receptacle is equipped with its own dedicated actuator and gate, creating independent control units. This segmentation allows precise control over product transfer from each receptacle without requiring complex coordinated control systems. The modular actuator-gate-receptacle units can be controlled independently, improving transfer accuracy while keeping individual components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each actuator-gate-receptacle assembly functions as a self-contained unit that can operate independently. The actuator directly controls its associated gate without requiring complex external coordination, allowing each receptacle to serve itself in the product transfer process. This self-service approach improves transfer accuracy through direct control while minimizing overall system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the guide block is designed with variable aperture dimensions, then product distribution control is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide block features apertures with different transverse dimensions at different locations: a first transverse dimension adjacent to the shuttle assembly and a second, smaller transverse dimension adjacent to the containers. This local variation in aperture size provides optimized product distribution control at each stage of the transfer process. The varying dimensions are integrated into a single monolithic guide block structure, maintaining manufacturing feasibility while achieving precise product distribution control.
4Manufacturing precision
If tampers are used to compress products in containers, then product placement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tamper system consists of multiple individual tampers, with at least one tamper associated with each receptacle. Each tamper can be independently actuated to compress products in corresponding containers. This segmentation allows precise control over product placement and compression in each container without requiring a complex centralized compression system. The modular tamper design improves product placement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tampers are designed to be movable between a first position (spaced from the container) and a second position (engaging the product for compression). The actuators dynamically control tamper positioning and compression force, enabling precise product placement and compaction. This dynamic control improves product placement precision while using relatively simple actuator mechanisms rather than complex static compression structures.
Data Source
AI summary
At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.