Vacuum Suction Conveyor for Damage-Free Can Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing conveying devices for circular cylindrical cans are prone to causing damage during transport.
Innovation Solution
A conveying device with a rotor-mounted suction holder that uses a planar annular surface and centering elements to secure cans, combined with a vacuum system for reliable attachment, allowing for both transport and processing of cans along a straight or curved path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conveying devices are used to transport cans, then the cans can be moved from one processing machine to another, but the cans are prone to damage during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a suction holder that creates a vacuum between the can bottom and the holder surface to securely hold the can during transport. The vacuum force prevents the can from shifting or falling, thereby eliminating damage risks associated with conventional mechanical gripping methods. The fluid outlet removes air from the chamber to establish and maintain this vacuum seal throughout the conveying path.
2Reliability
If a suction holder with a flat annular surface is used to secure cans, then the cans are held reliably during transport, but the sealing surface area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a slight convex curvature to the suction surface of the holder, which corresponds to the concave dome shape of the can bottom. This curved surface design maintains effective vacuum sealing with a reduced contact area compared to a completely flat surface, while still providing reliable can securing during transport.
3Manufacturing precision
If centering elements are added to the suction holder to improve can positioning, then the can handling precision increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates centering elements at specific locations on the suction holder surface where they are most effective for can alignment. These localized features provide precise can positioning without requiring a complete redesign of the entire holder structure, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired positioning accuracy.
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
Reduces the risk of can damage during transport and enables simultaneous processing, such as digital printing, by ensuring secure and precise handling of cans through vacuum-assisted suction.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum is then created between the can base and the suction cup, securing the can to the suction cup
Implementation Method 2
at least one suction holder on the rotor, which is designed for force transmission to a can bottom
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a conveying device (7) for circular cylindrical cans (11), comprising a machine frame (61) to which a stator (64) of a drive unit (67) is attached, the drive unit having a rotor (65) movably mounted on the stator (64), wherein at least one suction holder (71; 171; 271) is arranged on the rotor (65), which is designed for force transmission to a can base (51) of a circular cylindrical can (11) and which has a planar annular surface (76; 176; 276) on a suction surface (72; 172; 272) facing away from the rotor (65), which is bounded in the radial direction by at least one centering element (74, 75; 274; 175) which is aligned on a plane coaxial with a central axis (12) of the annular surface (76; 176; 276). a centering circle is arranged, wherein a fluid outlet (77) for a vacuum supply to a vacuum space is arranged radially inwards from the annular surface (76; 176; 276), which is separated from the suction surface (72; 172;272) and is bounded by a can bottom (51).