Variable-Pitch Container Chain for Smooth Station Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container transport systems in beverage bottling plants face issues with container spacing changes leading to spillage or damage during transfer, particularly in systems with varying station divisions, resulting in mechanical complexity, reduced smoothness of operation, and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A transport device with a base chain comprising displaceable chain links and a toggle lever mechanism, allowing variable container spacing adjustment, stabilized by a robust base chain design with elongated holes and guided by a chain track, enabling smooth and reliable transfer between stations with different container divisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a divider converter is used to change container division during transport, then compatibility between stations with different divisions is improved, but device complexity increases and mechanical smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chain links are made dynamically adjustable in length through telescopic structures, allowing the container division to be varied during operation. This dynamic adaptation enables compatibility between stations with different divisions without requiring complex mechanical converter mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If container spacing is changed during transport, then compatibility with different station divisions is improved, but spillage and damage to containers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The telescopic chain links enable dynamic adjustment of container spacing during transport. This allows smooth transition between different divisions while maintaining continuous support for containers, preventing spillage and damage that would occur with abrupt spacing changes in traditional fixed-chain systems.
3Reliability
If a robust base chain design is used to reduce maintenance, then reliability is improved, but adaptability to vary container division is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The base chain is segmented into modular chain links that can be independently adjusted. Each chain link contains a telescopic structure that can vary its length while maintaining the overall robustness of the chain. This segmentation allows the reliable base chain to simultaneously provide structural integrity and adaptability for varying container divisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Device (1) for transporting containers along a transport path (T), preferably in a beverage bottling plant, wherein the device (1) comprises: a base chain (10) with several chain links (11) arranged in series along the transport path (T) and pivotably connected to one another via chain joints (12), wherein the chain links (11) are at least partially displaceable relative to one another in the direction of the transport path (T), so that the distance between adjacent chain joints (12) is at least partially variable; several container carriers (13) provided and arranged on at least some of the chain links (11) to each receive a container and transport it along the transport path (T); a chain guide track (15) arranged to guide the base chain (10) along the transport path (T);and a toggle lever mechanism (20) which is attached to the base chain (10) and is set up to effect the displacement of the chain links (11) relative to each other in conjunction with the chain running curve (15).