Star Wheel Conveyor Adjustable Receiving Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container transport devices in bottling plants require specific designs for different container dimensions, leading to higher acquisition costs and longer setup times due to the need for custom transport equipment, and inefficient use of storage space for various container setups.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with adjustable transport wheels that can accommodate containers of varying diameters and heights, featuring a first transport wheel with multiple receiving areas and a second transport wheel offset in the direction of rotation, allowing for independent adjustment of receiving area sizes and positions without altering the container's neck receptacle position, ensuring upright transport and easy adaptation to different container cross-sections and heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific transport devices are designed for each container type, then transport reliability is improved, but device complexity and acquisition costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device is designed with adjustable receiving areas that can accommodate multiple container types and dimensions. The first and second transport wheels can be adjusted to create receiving areas of different sizes, allowing a single device to handle various container configurations that would traditionally require separate dedicated transport devices for each container type.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport device incorporates adjustable components that allow the receiving areas to be dynamically modified according to container dimensions. The first and second transport wheels can be positioned at different distances from the axis of rotation, enabling the device to adapt its geometry to match different container types while maintaining reliable transport.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom transport devices are created for different container dimensions, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time due to setup changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device features adjustable transport wheels that can be quickly repositioned to accommodate different container dimensions. The first and second transport wheels can be independently adjusted along the axis of rotation, allowing rapid adaptation to new container types without requiring complete device replacement or extensive setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport device is divided into adjustable modules (first transport wheel, second transport wheel, and receiving areas) that can be independently modified. This segmentation allows specific components to be adjusted for different container types without affecting the entire device, enabling quick setup changes while maintaining overall system integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transport devices are stored for different containers, then adaptability is improved, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single transport device is designed to perform the function of multiple dedicated devices through its adjustable receiving areas. By modifying the positions of the first and second transport wheels, one device can accommodate various container types and dimensions, eliminating the need to store multiple separate transport devices for different container configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable components of the transport device allow smaller receiving areas to be configured within the overall device structure. The first and second transport wheels can be positioned to create nested or overlapping receiving areas that adapt to different container sizes, maximizing the utility of a single device while minimizing storage requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If receiving area size is adjusted, then adaptability to container cross-section is improved, but position stability of neck receptacle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The transport device separates the adjustment functions into independent components: the first transport wheel adjusts the overall receiving area size to accommodate different container cross-sections, while the second transport wheel independently maintains the position of the neck receptacle. This segmentation allows size adaptation without compromising position stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the transport device serve different functions: the first transport wheel's receiving area is optimized for adapting to various container cross-sections, while the second transport wheel's receiving area is specifically designed to maintain stable positioning of the container neck. This local specialization ensures that size adjustment does not affect neck receptacle position stability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device (1) has two transport wheels (2, 4) for contacting containers (10) at two regions (10a, 10b) for transporting the containers, respectively. The wheels have two sets of receiving areas (12, 14) for retaining the regions of the containers, respectively. An adjusting mechanism changes one of the sets of the receiving areas. The mechanism is formed such that a position of the changed set of the receiving areas is opposite to a position of the other set of the receiving areas in a circumferential direction of one of the wheels independent of adjusted size of the receiving areas.