Trapezoidal Wedge Height Adjustment for Transport Star
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container treatment devices in beverage bottling plants face challenges in height adjustment of transport stars, leading to wear and misalignment issues due to play in shaft-hub connections, which affects the life and efficiency of components.
Innovation Solution
A device with a shaft body and hub body featuring a trapezoidal groove and wedge mechanism, where the trapezoidal wedge is clamped by a fitting screw, ensuring synchronous orientation and reducing the need for separate readjustment, thus preventing rotation and maintaining axial run-out during height adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a feather key connection is used between shaft and hub to allow height adjustment, then the transport star can be moved along the axis, but play develops in the connection causing wear and increasing the need for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The connection transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic adjustable connection. The hub can be positioned at different heights along the shaft by loosening the clamping lever, which releases the locking action of the wedge-shaped element in the groove. This allows the system to adapt to different container heights while maintaining a secure play-free connection during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub is divided into a hub body and a hub cap that can be separated. The hub cap can be removed to access the interior of the hub for cleaning and maintenance operations. This segmentation allows for easier maintenance and cleaning without requiring complete disassembly of the entire assembly.
2Reliability
If a clamping set is used to eliminate play between shaft and hub, then the connection becomes rigid, but loosening the clamping set causes loss of synchronicity between shaft and hub axes
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped element automatically centers itself in the groove when the clamping lever is tightened. The tapered geometry of the wedge and groove causes the wedge to be forced into the center position by the clamping action itself, eliminating the need for separate alignment procedures. The system performs its own centering function through the mechanical design of the wedge-groove interface.
3Reliability
If the hub is made of elastic material to allow play-free connection through screw displacement, then the connection becomes rigid, but the strength and vibration resistance of the hub deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped element acts as an intermediary between the hub and shaft. Instead of deforming the hub material itself, the wedge transmits the clamping force from the fitting screw to the hub, creating a play-free connection through mechanical interference rather than material deformation. This preserves the structural integrity and vibration resistance of the hub while achieving the desired rigid connection.
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 provides a play-free and synchronized shaft-hub connection, reducing wear and increasing the lifespan of components, while simplifying the height adjustment process and maintaining axial run-out, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of container treatment devices.
Implementation Method 1
the trapezoidal wedge (4) against the groove (21) can be braced by means of a fitting screw (5) that is supported against the hub body (3)
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a device (1) for adjusting the height of a transport star (110), preferably a transport star (110) of a filler carousel or a capper carousel in a beverage bottling plant, comprising a shaft body (2) and a hub body (3) arranged circumferentially (3) around the shaft body (2), wherein the shaft body (2) and the hub body (3) are displaceable relative to each other along a longitudinal axis (20) of the shaft body (2) for height adjustment, wherein the shaft body (2) comprises a groove (21) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (20), which has a trapezoidal cross-section tapering outwards perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (20), and in which a trapezoidal wedge (4) with a correspondingly tapering cross-section is guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis (20), and wherein the trapezoidal wedge (4) is guided against the groove (21) by means of a bearing extending towards the hub body (3). can be tightened with the supporting fitted screw (5);as well as a container handling device (100) with a height-adjustable transport star (110).;