Workpiece Carrier Guide Base for Container Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container handling systems face challenges in transporting and positioning containers with excessive stands or unsuitable floor contours, leading to issues like collision with treatment unit components, damage during handling, and restricted access for labeling or printing, especially for elongated containers.
Innovation Solution
A treatment machine equipped with a container carousel featuring distributed rotary plates, centering bells, and workpiece carriers with a guide base and drive shaft for precise rotation and centering, allowing for stable guidance and access to lateral container areas, enabling secure handling and labeling or printing without collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a makeshift lifting star is used to lift the container out of the tool carrier for treatment, then access for labeling or printing is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centering piece is extracted from the tool carrier structure and implemented as a separate, movable component that can be independently adjusted. This allows the container to be accessed for treatment without requiring complex lifting mechanisms, as the centering piece can be simply moved to provide access while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The centering piece is designed to be movable relative to the tool carrier, allowing dynamic adjustment during the treatment process. This enables the system to adapt its configuration for labeling or printing access without requiring permanent structural modifications or complex lifting stars
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tool carrier rotates around its longitudinal axis for stable guidance, then handling stability is improved, but collision risk with treatment unit components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation function is segmented between the container carousel (which provides overall rotation) and the tool carrier (which maintains stable guidance). This segmentation allows the tool carrier to remain stable during treatment while the carousel handles rotational movements, preventing collisions with treatment unit components
Solution Approach 2:
The container carousel acts as an intermediary between the treatment unit and the tool carrier. It absorbs rotational movements and positioning adjustments, allowing the tool carrier to maintain a stable, collision-free position while still enabling container rotation through the carousel mechanism
3Manufacturing precision
If guide elements are arranged at defined angles on the guide base, then container positioning precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide elements are arranged at specifically defined asymmetric angles on the guide base, optimized for precise container positioning. This asymmetric configuration achieves high positioning precision without requiring symmetric complexity, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements are pre-configured at optimal angles during manufacturing, establishing precise positioning capabilities before operation. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during use, reducing operational complexity while maintaining high positioning precision
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 provides stable and precise positioning of containers during transport and treatment, ensuring safe handling and efficient access for labeling or printing, even for small or elongated containers, while minimizing the risk of damage and collision.
Implementation Method 1
The centering piece is in the guide base by means of a warehouse around itself and also connected to the drive shaft with the drive shaft
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool carrier and a method for transporting and positioning containers in a treatment machine of a filling system are described. The workpiece carrier comprises a guide base for guiding the workpiece carrier in the treatment machine, particularly while maintaining its rotational position, and a centering element for supporting and centering a container to be treated, particularly while preventing rotation. The centering element is rotatably mounted in the guide base by means of a bearing and is further connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a drive shaft accessible from below through the guide base. The guide base enables transport of the workpiece carrier through a filling system while maintaining its rotational position. The drive shaft, accessible from below, allows for easy adjustment of the container's rotational position while providing good access to the side wall areas for treatment.