Single Drive CIP Cap Mechanism for Beverage Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling device systems for liquids, including beverages and viscous media, require complex and expensive drive mechanisms for CIP caps, which involve separate motors for pivoting and lifting, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A single drive device is used to generate both pivoting and displacement movements for the CIP cap, with these movements being at least partially offset in time, allowing for efficient operation with reduced component complexity and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate pivoting motor and lifting motor are provided for CIP cap, then the CIP cap can be precisely positioned and moved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate drive functions (pivoting and lifting) into a single drive mechanism. The CIP cap's pivot arm is coupled to a drive mechanism that generates both pivoting movement about a pivot axis and lifting/displacement movement along the pivot axis, eliminating the need for separate motors and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single drive mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it can generate pivoting movement to rotate the CIP cap about the pivot axis, and simultaneously generate displacement movement to move the CIP cap along the pivot axis. This multi-functional drive replaces what would traditionally require two separate drive systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate pivoting motor and lifting motor are provided for CIP cap, then the CIP cap can be precisely positioned and moved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate drive functions (pivoting and lifting) into a single drive mechanism. The CIP cap's pivot arm is coupled to a drive mechanism that generates both pivoting movement about a pivot axis and lifting/displacement movement along the pivot axis, eliminating the need for separate motors and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If CIP cap is swung under filling member and then pressed against it, then liquid-tight sealing is achieved, but the drive mechanism becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate drive functions (pivoting and lifting) into a single drive mechanism. The CIP cap's pivot arm is coupled to a drive mechanism that generates both pivoting movement about a pivot axis and lifting/displacement movement along the pivot axis, eliminating the need for separate motors and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive mechanism is designed to first swing the CIP cap under the filling member (pivoting movement), and then press it against the filling member (displacement movement). This sequential action ensures proper positioning before sealing, achieving reliable liquid-tight sealing while using a single integrated drive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2275381B1Device for filling drinks with CIP cap control
Publication Date: 2014.09.24 KRONES AG
  • EP2275381B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2275381B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c
  • EP2275381B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A device for filling liquids into containers, comprising at least one filling element (2) which fills the containers with liquids, and a covering device (4) which at least temporarily covers the filling element (2) to prevent liquid from escaping from the filling element (2), wherein this covering device (4) is pivotable about a predetermined pivot axis (X) and is also displaceable about a predetermined lateral direction (S), and comprising at least one drive device (10) for generating the movements of the covering device (4). According to the invention, the drive device (10) serves to generate both the pivoting movement and the lateral movement of the covering device (4), and the drive device (10) is designed such that the pivoting movement and the lateral movement occur at least partially offset from each other in time.