Bag Clamp With Nested Sliding Jaws and Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamps for closing flexible bags are either too large for many applications, difficult to use, or not suited for easy reuse, as they require separate parts that are hard to interlock and separate.
Innovation Solution
A clamp design featuring two members with sliding jaws that can be easily aligned and secured, using biasing means to maintain a closed position and requiring force to open, with retaining and stop mechanisms to secure the bag, allowing for efficient closure and easy reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional clamps are designed to accommodate the full width of the bag mouth, then the bag can be sealed effectively, but the clamp becomes undesirably large for many applications
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp utilizes a nested structure where the shutter is received within a housing, allowing the clamp to maintain a compact form while still providing sufficient jaw coverage for effective sealing. The nested arrangement enables the jaws to extend adequately without increasing the overall clamp footprint.
2Length of moving object
If separate parts are used to form the clamp, then the device can be compact, but the parts are undesirably difficult to interlock and separate for reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter and housing are designed as separate components that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The sliding engagement between the shutter and housing allows for simple interlocking during assembly and easy separation for reuse, combining compactness with operational ease.
3Ease of operation
If a clamp is designed for easy reuse, then it can be separated and reassembled conveniently, but it may compromise the secure retention of the bag
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp employs a dynamic sliding mechanism where the shutter can move relative to the housing. This dynamic design allows the clamp to transition between open and closed states easily for reuse, while the closed position provides secure bag retention through the cooperative engagement of the jaws.
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
The clamp effectively closes flexible bags with ease, ensuring secure sealing and easy release, while being compact and reusable, addressing the limitations of previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
said clamp includes biasing means for biasing said first and second members to the closed position
Implementation Method 2
said second member being engaged with said first member for relative sliding movement thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp (10) including a housing (11) being a first member having a first passage (16) therethrough providing a first jaw and a first opening to said first passage (21) from one side; a shutter (12) being a second member having a second passage therethrough providing a second jaw and a second opening to said second passage (27) from one side; said second member being engaged with said first member far relative sliding movement between an open position in which said first and second jaws are spaced apart and said first and second openings are at least partially aligned and provide access to said first passage from one side and a closed position in which the first and second jaws cooperate to clamp a portion of a bag to be closed there between. The shutter is biased closed by springs (13) and (14) located within the closed passage end of the housing.