Patent ID: 9477791
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. Method for designing packages and package handling systems, the method comprising: a. providing a computer aided design (CAD) model of an initial simulated package design, b. providing a CAD model of an initial simulated package-handling element design, the design comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a motion transfer component comprising a combination of discrete geometrically defined elements, package guide rail assemblies, stop gates, vacuum conveying elements and combinations thereof; c. modeling the interaction of the simulated package(s) and the simulated package-handling element using a finite element (FE) analysis method, wherein the interaction reflects the package interaction with the discrete elements of a multi-element motion transfer component or the package guide rail assemblies having a flexibility greater than zero or a stop gate, or a vacuum conveying element or a combination thereof, wherein modeling interaction of the simulated package(s) and the simulated package-handling element includes using conveying test data to predict the dynamic pressure on the simulated package, wherein the conveyance test involves one or more filled bottles accumulated against a rigid stop gate equipped with a load cell to calibrate effective coefficient of friction between the one or more filled bottles and discrete or continuous conveying components; d. validating the modeled interaction using measured data from real events and sub-events of actual interaction; and e. altering or accepting at least one of the simulated package design or the simulated package-handling element design or packing line process settings according to the results of the modeling to guide one or more bottles during a packing process while imposing minimal friction that oppose motion on the one or more bottles.