Adjustable Valve Assembly for Adhesive Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve arrangements for applying adhesive media in packaging processes, such as for tobacco products, require complex and costly adjustments to change the distance between adhesive application points, often necessitating the replacement of entire valve units.
Innovation Solution
A valve arrangement where each valve unit is linearly movable relative to a central body, allowing for independent adjustment of the distance between adhesive application points without the need to replace entire units, by utilizing linearly stored actuators and telescopic connection lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between discharge openings of valve units needs to be adjusted, then the adhesive track width can be changed, but the complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple valve unit formats in stock
Solution Approach 1:
The valve units are made linearly movable relative to the central body through guide pieces and actuators, transforming the static fixed-distance configuration into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the distance between discharge openings to be changed without replacing entire valve units, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into a stationary central body and separately movable valve units. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each valve unit's position relative to the central body, enabling flexible configuration of discharge opening distances without affecting the entire valve arrangement structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between discharge openings needs to be adjusted, then the adhesive track width can be changed, but the cost increases due to replacement of entire valve units
Solution Approach 1:
By making valve units linearly movable with actuators, the system eliminates the need to manufacture and stock multiple fixed-format valve units. A single valve unit design can be positioned at different distances, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and inventory requirements while maintaining full adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable valve unit design creates a universal component that can serve multiple positioning requirements. Instead of needing specialized valve units for different track widths, one universal movable valve unit can be positioned to achieve various adhesive track widths, reducing the number of unique components needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between discharge openings needs to be adjusted, then the adhesive track width can be changed, but the time required for adjustment increases due to complex replacement procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The linearly movable valve units with actuators enable quick positional adjustments without the time-consuming process of complete valve unit replacement. The actuator mechanisms allow for rapid repositioning of valve units along the guide pieces, significantly reducing adjustment time while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pieces are pre-installed on the central body, providing prepared pathways for valve unit movement. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures during adjustment, allowing valve units to be quickly repositioned along the predetermined guide paths.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a valve arrangement for applying a flowable medium, in particular adhesive, onto an application surface in which a substrate can be placed, comprising a preferably stationary central body (24) and two valve units (25a, 25b) mounted on opposite sides of the stationary central body (24) and designed as application valves, each with a dispensing opening preferably arranged at the end of a nozzle for dispensing the medium onto the application surface, wherein the valve units (25a, 25b) are arranged on both sides of a transverse plane arranged between them and extending perpendicular to the application surface. The invention is characterized in that, to change this distance between the dispensing openings, one or each valve unit (25a, 25b) is linearly movable relative to the central body (24), in particular parallel to the application surface.