Spiral Conveyor for Oriented Bottle Caps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automated bottling systems require numerous steps and large spaces to convey bottle caps from lower to upper areas without losing their orientation, as linear inclined conveyor sections are inefficient and prone to caps falling off due to weight and orientation issues.
Innovation Solution
A device using a cylindrical core with a spiral guide and nozzles to convey molded parts, such as bottle caps, spirally against gravity, maintaining orientation and requiring minimal space, with the option for disinfection during transport using different fluids in segmented nozzle sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If linear inclined conveyor sections are used to convey caps from lower to upper areas, then the caps can be conveyed vertically, but the required space becomes very large and the caps may lose orientation due to the slope angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear inclined conveyor with a spiral conveyor that winds around a central axis. This curved path allows the caps to be conveyed vertically while maintaining a gentle slope angle throughout the spiral path, preventing orientation loss and reducing the horizontal space footprint compared to a straight inclined conveyor.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional linear inclined plane to a three-dimensional spiral path around a central axis. By adding the rotational dimension, the conveyor achieves vertical conveyance with compact horizontal footprint, effectively solving the space contradiction.
2Productivity
If steeper slope angles are used to reduce conveyor length, then vertical conveying efficiency improves, but caps fall off or lose orientation due to weight forces
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral conveyor path distributes the vertical rise over a longer, gentler curved path. This maintains the caps' orientation by keeping the slope angle below the critical threshold where weight forces would cause them to slip or rotate, while still achieving efficient vertical conveyance through the spiral geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical inclined plane mechanism with a spiral conveyor system that uses rotational motion and fluid flow to achieve conveyance. This substitution allows for gentler slopes that maintain cap orientation while still providing effective vertical transport.
3Reliability
If linear conveyors are used to maintain cap orientation, then orientation is preserved, but the conveyor requires very large space to overcome height differences
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral conveyor uses its curved, rotating path to maintain cap orientation through the gentle slope angle, while the vertical projection of the spiral provides compact space utilization. The caps follow the spiral path which naturally maintains their orientation without requiring the excessive horizontal space of a linear inclined conveyor.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing the vertical dimension through the spiral's height component, the system achieves compact horizontal footprint while maintaining the gentle slope necessary for orientation preservation. The three-dimensional spiral path reconciles the conflicting requirements of orientation maintenance and space efficiency.
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
Efficiently conveys oriented bottle caps from a lower to an upper area with minimal space usage while maintaining orientation and allowing for disinfection during transport, reducing the need for complex disinfection setups and minimizing the risk of caps falling or losing orientation.
Implementation Method 1
nozzles (openings; bores) are arranged along the guide, which are used to guide a fluid, ie a liquid or a gas, into the area of the guide. The nozzles are therefore used to exert a force on the molded parts with the fluid, so that the molded parts are conveyed by this force along the guide and thus spirally around the core - against gravity - from the lower area to the upper area.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device 10 for conveying moulded parts 11 from a lower region 12 to an upper region 14 situated at a higher level. For this purpose, the device has a cylindrical core 16 about which a guide 18 runs in spiral fashion. In the region of the guide 18 there are arranged multiple nozzles 30 which serve for conducting a fluid into the region of the guide 18. The moulded parts 11 can then be driven by way of the fluid by virtue of a force being exerted on the moulded parts 11 by the fluid. The invention also comprises a method for conveying moulded parts 11 by way of the device 10.