Vacuum Board Insulation for Labeling Machine Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Labeling machines in the beverage processing industry generate noise due to high airflow velocities in vacuum boards, which can be harmful to operators.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an insulating compound, such as a porous material like fleece or polyester-based polyurethane, into the cavity of the vacuum board to reduce noise levels while maintaining the suction effect, allowing the insulating compound to fill 40-90% of the cavity volume to minimize noise and preserve label holding capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high vacuum suction force is applied to hold labels on the vacuum board, then label holding reliability is improved, but noise level increases to harmful levels
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating material is introduced as an intermediary substance within the vacuum board cavity. This material mediates between the vacuum suction force and the label, allowing the vacuum to hold the label reliably while the insulating material absorbs the noise generated by the high-velocity airflow through the perforations.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating material used in the vacuum board cavity is a porous material that allows vacuum airflow to pass through while providing noise absorption. The porous structure enables the material to reduce noise levels by dissipating acoustic energy through its interconnected voids, maintaining label holding capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vacuum board cavity is filled with insulating material to reduce noise, then noise level decreases to acceptable levels, but the suction force on labels may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The parameters of the insulating material are specifically selected and optimized to balance noise reduction and suction force transmission. By controlling properties such as porosity, density, and thickness of the insulating material, the system achieves noise reduction while maintaining sufficient vacuum suction force for reliable label holding.
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
Significantly reduces noise levels to a tolerable range for operators without compromising the suction force or adhesive force on labels, allowing for reliable labeling without uncontrolled label movement.
Implementation Method 1
The necessary vacuum is generated by a vacuum pump, which is connected to a perforated sheet of the vacuum board and draws in air through this perforated sheet, thereby drawing the label to the openings and ultimately holding it in place on the vacuum board.
Implementation Method 2
By filling at least part of the cavity with the insulating material, a significant reduction in noise can be achieved while maintaining the same size of the holes in the perforated sheet and the suction effect of the vacuum source.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a labeling machine (100) for labeling containers (130), such as bottles, comprising a transport device (101) for the containers and a vacuum cylinder (122) for transporting and transferring labels (131) onto the containers at a transfer point (160), wherein a vacuum board (140) is arranged downstream of the transfer point for holding at least a part of the label while the label is applied to the container, and wherein the vacuum board has a cavity which is bounded at least on the label side by a perforated sheet (142) with several openings for suction of the labels and on the other side by a base body, characterized in that an insulating material (144) is arranged in the cavity.