Stationary Gassing Feed for Can Capping and Oxygen Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing can sealing technologies face inefficiencies in gassing processes, particularly due to interference contours and limited adaptability to various can shapes, leading to high tool change times and insufficient gassing for ensuring food durability.
Innovation Solution
A feed device with a stationary gassing device arranged above the feed paths for both containers and lids, allowing for simultaneous gassing along separate but converging paths before closure, eliminating the need for rotary unions and enhancing hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary gassing device with interfering contours is used, then gas can be supplied to containers, but adaptability to various can shapes is limited and tool change times increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the gassing device with the container (rotary union), the patent makes the gassing device stationary and rotates the container feed path. This inversion eliminates the complex rotary union and interfering contours, allowing the stationary gassing device to adapt to various can shapes through the rotating feed path.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary gassing device is designed to work with multiple container formats by receiving containers through a rotating feed path. The single stationary gassing structure serves multiple functions for different can shapes, eliminating the need for tool changes and interfering contours associated with rotary devices.
2Reliability
If a rotary union is used for gas supply, then continuous gassing is possible, but hygiene is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the rotary union from the system by making the gassing device stationary. The gas supply is connected to the stationary device through fixed conduits, removing the hygiene-compromising rotary union while maintaining continuous gassing capability through the rotating container feed.
3Productivity
If gassing distance is shortened, then process efficiency improves, but gassing effectiveness for shelf life reduction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the gassing distance by arranging the stationary gassing device to operate over a longer portion of the rotating container feed path. This dimensional extension in the rotational direction allows sufficient gassing time and distance to ensure effective oxygen displacement and extended shelf life, while maintaining process efficiency through continuous operation.
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
This solution enables efficient gassing over a longer distance, improves adaptability to different can formats, reduces tool change times, and ensures a longer shelf life by minimizing oxygen in the container headspace.
Implementation Method 1
deliver a gas, such as an inert gas, to the underside of the lid... This ensures that any residual volume of the can, in which no food is located, is essentially filled with the gas before closing, with the air originally present in the residual volume being displaced as completely as possible by the gas
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a feed device (1) for gassing a container (100) and a lid (101) in a gassing area (B) when feeding to a capper (1000), comprising a container feed (12) for feeding the container (100) through the gassing area (B) along a first feed section (S1); and a lid feed (10) arranged on the container feed (12) such that a lid (101) is movable through the gassing area (B) along a second feed section (S2) to the container (100) and can be placed on the container (100) at one end of the gassing area (B); and a gassing device (5) arranged stationary on the gassing area (B) for gassing the container (100) and the lid (101) in the gassing area (B).In this case, the gassing device (5) extends over the first feed section (S1) and the second feed section (S2) in such a way that the lid (101) and the container (100) can be gassed until the lid (101) and the container (100) are brought together.