Transfer Plate With Flexible Membrane for Gas-Tight Container Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging technologies face challenges in efficiently attaching container elements, such as lids and rims, to paperboard containers while maintaining a protective gas atmosphere, leading to gas leakage and inefficiencies in the packaging process.

Innovation Solution

A transfer plate with a through-going cavity and cover portion is designed to securely hold and transfer container elements, minimizing gas leakage by aligning with a retaining device's cavity, and an attachment unit with a welding unit and applicator ensures secure attachment within a protective gas atmosphere.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a traditional open transfer mechanism is used to attach container elements, then the attachment process can be simplified, but gas leakage occurs and the protective gas atmosphere cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment process simplicityVSAvoidgas leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible membrane is introduced to cover the transfer plate's cavity opening, creating a gas-tight seal that prevents leakage while allowing the transfer plate to move and transfer container elements. The membrane acts as a flexible barrier that maintains the protective gas atmosphere during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane serves as an intermediary element between the protected container element and the external environment. It allows the transfer plate to perform its transfer function while blocking the harmful gas leakage, effectively mediating between the need for simple transfer and the need for gas tightness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the transfer plate cavity is left open for easy loading and unloading, then the transfer speed increases, but gas leaks through the cavity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer speedVSAvoidgas leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane covers the cavity opening, preventing gas leakage while allowing the transfer plate to maintain its open cavity structure for efficient loading and unloading of container elements. The membrane can be stretched and deformed during transfer operations without compromising the gas seal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The membrane is designed to be dynamic and adaptable, moving with the transfer plate during its operational cycle. It transitions between different states (covering the opening during transfer, allowing access during loading/unloading) while continuously preventing gas leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a cover is added to the transfer plate cavity to prevent gas leakage, then gas tightness is improved, but the complexity of the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas leakage preventionVSAvoidtransfer plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding a rigid cover structure, a thin flexible membrane is used to achieve gas tightness. This membrane is much simpler than a mechanical cover system, requiring no additional joints, seals, or moving parts while effectively preventing gas leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The complex cover structure is extracted and replaced with a simple membrane. The membrane provides the essential gas barrier function without the unnecessary complexity of a traditional cover mechanism, maintaining gas tightness while simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution effectively minimizes gas leakage and enhances the efficiency of attaching container elements to paperboard containers, maintaining a protective gas atmosphere and improving the packaging process by ensuring secure and efficient attachment.

Implementation Method 1

a welding unit configured to fasten a lid to the container, which welding unit comprises an inductive welding energy generator for melting of a weldable layer that forms part of the container and/or the lid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

an inductive welding energy generator for melting of a weldable layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive heating: Induction Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11130600B2Transfer plate and attachment unit for container element

Publication Date: 2021.09.28 GPI SYST AB

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a transfer plate for a container element. The transfer plate extends in a first direction and a second direction being perpendicular to each other. The transfer plate comprises a cavity portion comprising at least one through-going first cavity adapted to receive and hold the container element, the first cavity having a first open area. The transfer plate further comprises a cover portion being at least as large as, or substantially as large as, the first open area.The disclosure further relates to an attachment unit for attaching a container element to a container body and to an apparatus for attaching container elements to container bodies in a flow of containers. In addition the disclosure relates to a method of attaching a container element to a container body by means of the attachment unit.