Bag Chain Folding with Rotating Star Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for handling bag chains, such as those using pendulum movements or back-and-forth movements, are limited in performance and do not handle the bags gently enough for efficient stacking.
Innovation Solution
The use of at least two folding members, such as rotating star wheels, that move between the bags to fold the chain into zigzag layers, allowing for a relative movement that positions the folding elements between adjacent bags, enabling quick and gentle folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pendulum movement or back-and-forth movement is used to fold bag chains, then the device can achieve bag chain folding, but the performance is limited and the bags are not handled gently enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing static pendulum movements with continuously rotating star wheels that have arms reaching between bags. The rotating arms dynamically engage with the bag chain, providing controlled folding motion that adapts to the bag flow, thereby improving performance while handling bags more gently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the folding function into multiple star wheels with individual arms that can independently reach between adjacent bags. This segmentation allows different parts of the bag chain to be folded simultaneously at different locations, increasing overall folding performance while distributing the mechanical stress more evenly across the bags.
2Productivity
If pendulum movement or back-and-forth movement is used to fold bag chains, then the device can achieve bag chain folding, but the folding speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action through continuously rotating star wheels that constantly engage with the bag chain. Unlike intermittent back-and-forth movements, the continuous rotation maintains constant folding action, significantly increasing folding speed while the controlled arm movements ensure gentle bag handling throughout the continuous process.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic rotation of star wheels with reaching arms provides continuous adaptive engagement with the bag chain, maintaining optimal folding speed while adjusting to varying bag conditions, thus achieving both high productivity and gentle handling simultaneously.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If folding members reach between adjacent bags to fold the bag chain, then the bags are handled gently, but multiple folding members are required increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple folding functions into integrated star wheel assemblies where arms from a single rotating component perform the folding action. Instead of requiring separate folding members for each bag, the star wheel arms work in coordination, reaching between adjacent bags simultaneously, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining gentle bag handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The star wheels serve multiple functions: they provide the folding action, maintain bag spacing, and guide the bag chain through the folding process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized folding members, simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring gentle and effective bag folding.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for handling a bag chain (11), wherein the bag chain (11) is folded into layers (23) to form a stack (13), and wherein each layer (23) contains one or more bags (17) of the bag chain (11). According to the invention, the bag chain (11) is folded by at least one folding element which engages between the bags (17) of the bag chain (11) to fold the bag chain (11). The invention further relates to a corresponding device.