Acute-Angle Suction Jaws for Bag Section Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sack filling systems face inefficiencies in opening sack sections due to static charges and other negative influences, leading to increased cycle times and reduced process speed, as suction devices often fail to uniformly separate the sides of the sack section.

Innovation Solution

The opening device features suction cups arranged at an acute angle to the sack section, focusing the suction force on a smaller area to enhance the peeling effect, thereby improving the release of the sack section sides even under difficult conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If suction cups are arranged parallel to the sack section sides, then the suction device can easily be constructed, but the suction force is distributed over a larger area reducing the peeling effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of constructionVSAvoidopening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction cups are arranged asymmetrically at an acute angle (alpha) relative to the normal of the sack section side. This asymmetric angular arrangement concentrates the suction force on a smaller contact area, enhancing the peeling effect and reliably separating the sack section sides even under difficult conditions with static charges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If suction cups are arranged at an acute angle to the sack section sides, then the peeling effect is enhanced and opening reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The angular parameter (alpha) of the suction cup arrangement is optimized to be between 0° and 45° relative to the normal of the sack section side. This parameter change concentrates suction force effectively while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple, balancing reliability improvement with acceptable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If standard suction arrangement is used, then the device structure is simple, but cycle time increases due to failed suction attempts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidprocess speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric acute-angle arrangement of suction cups ensures reliable first-attempt opening by concentrating suction force, eliminating the need for follow-up attempts. This maintains structural simplicity while significantly improving productivity by reducing cycle time extensions caused by failed suction attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

4Device complexity

If suction force is distributed over large area, then the suction cup structure is simple, but the force concentration is insufficient to overcome static charges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuction cup structureVSAvoidsuction force concentration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging suction cups at an acute angle rather than parallel to the sack section, the suction force is concentrated on a smaller contact area. This asymmetric arrangement generates sufficient force density to overcome static charges and adhesion forces, maintaining simple suction cup structure while achieving the required force concentration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

This design reduces the risk of faulty suction, decreases cycle time extensions, and enhances the overall operating speed of the bag filling system by ensuring consistent and effective opening of the sack section.

Implementation Method 1

a suction device (20) for sucking in the two sides (212, 214) of the sack section (210) with a movably mounted first suction cup (22) on the first side (212) of the sack section (210) and a movably mounted second suction cup (24) on the second side (214) of the sack section (210)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2810880B1Opening device for the opening of a bag section of a film sheet in a bag filling installation
Publication Date: 2018.01.31 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP2810880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2810880B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2810880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an opening device (10) for opening a bag section (210) of a film web (200) in a bag filling machine (100) for filling with bulk material, comprising a suction device (20) for suctioning the two sides (212, 214) of the bag section (200) with a movably mounted first suction jaw (22) on the first side (212) of the bag section (210) and a movably mounted second suction jaw (24) on the second side (214) of the bag section (200), wherein at least one of the suction jaws (22, 24) is arranged at an acute angle to the corresponding side (212, 214) of the bag section (200).