Automatic Beer Bottle Filler and Capper

C-4P5

Aaron LandyIMDL Fall 2013

September 12, 2013

Homebrewing is fun, bottling beer is hard

Time consuming process requires individually filling and capping bottles of different shapes and sizes

~50 bottles per 5 gal batch

MOTIVATION

Fill bottles with precise amountsCap bottles securely without breakingSupport inconsistent bottle shapes and sizesSeek/retrieve bottles automaticallyDo not contaminate, oxidize, damage, or waste beer

OBJECTIVES

Four primary mechanisms:1. Bottle searching/retrieving claw

Infrared and bump sensors to locate bottle

2. Filling tube Stainless steel tube lowered into bottle Tube opening must be pressed against

bottom of bottle to minimize agitation to prevent oxidation or contamination

3. Cap retrieving/placing magnet Caps must be picked up from top of

bottle and held during fi lling Cap must be replaced precisely on top

of bottle

4. Capping actuator Forceful linear actuator with capping

“bell” crimps/seals cap onto bottle

MECHANISMS

Raspberry Pi (Model B rev. 2) Infrared Range Finder and bump to detect bottlesRaspberry Pi Camera module to calculate bottle

height and volumeArduino + Stepper Motors + Motor Driver to drive

linear motion axesServos to open and close, turn claw

ELECTRONICS

DESIGN AND OPERATION

Varying bottle size:355, 500, or 750 ml

CappingActuator

CapElectromagnet

Filling Wand

BottleClaw

Vertical-travel mechanism platform

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QUESTIONS