Bag Filling Gripper Positioning for Wrinkle-Free Seams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filling machines for dusty bulk goods face issues with contamination, air entrapment leading to increased packaging material needs, instability of filled bags, and difficulty in stacking due to wrinkles and leaks in the weld seam, especially when using screws for filling and closing.
Innovation Solution
An FFS machine design that includes a bag manufacturing part with a bottom seam, where the first gripping means holds the bag before the filling station and the second gripping means prevents folds from forming by positioning outside the fold area, using gripper tongs or clamping jaws to manage the bag effectively, and incorporating a vibrating dosing tube for compaction and reduced adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the second gripping means contacts the bag during filling, then the bag is held stable, but folds form in the bag material leading to wrinkles and weld defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the second gripping means from the system entirely. The filling station is designed to fill the bag while it is held only by the first gripping means, eliminating the source of fold formation. This extraction of the problematic component resolves the contradiction by preventing wrinkles while maintaining weld quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the gripping function into a single first gripping means that holds the bag during filling, separating this from the closing function. The first gripping means is positioned and designed to hold the bag stable without creating folds in the material, allowing stable filling without compromising weld seam quality.
2Productivity
If dusty bulk goods are filled using gravity or free fall, then filling speed is increased, but product dust contaminates the bag upper edge areas and environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dosing tube as an intermediary device that delivers filling material directly to the bag interior. This controlled delivery system prevents dust from escaping into the environment and contaminating the bag upper edges, while maintaining efficient filling speeds through the streamlined dosing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the gravity-based free fall filling system with a mechanically controlled dosing tube system. This substitution provides precise control over material delivery, preventing dust contamination while maintaining productivity through automated dosing mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If air is allowed to escape during filling, then bag can be stacked and stored, but ventilation time increases and fine-grained products escape through perforations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary compaction of the filling material during the filling process itself, eliminating the need for subsequent ventilation periods. The dosing tube delivers material in a compacted state, allowing immediate stacking and storage without product loss through perforations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by eliminating the idle ventilation period. The filling and compaction processes are integrated, allowing the bag to be immediately stacked and stored after filling without waiting for air to escape, thus preventing product loss while achieving stackability.
4Quantity of substance
If more packaging material is used to compensate for increased volume, then product capacity is maintained, but packaging waste increases and stacking efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the filling material during the filling process by applying compaction forces through the dosing tube. This increases the bulk density of the product, reducing the volume required and allowing smaller, more efficient packaging that decreases waste and improves stacking efficiency while maintaining product capacity.
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
Prevents the formation of wrinkles during the welding process, allows for secure closure without contamination, reduces packaging material usage, and enhances the stability and compactness of filled bags for easier stacking and storage.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a vibrating dosing tube for compaction and reduced adhesion
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a machine for filling and closing bags, comprising a first pair of gripping means (50) for holding the bag (8) in the filling station (60) and a second pair of gripping means for conveying the filled bag further, wherein the pairs of gripping means are arranged such that they hold the bag (8) in its intended position on both sides of its (8) principal axis of symmetry (Hs). At least one gripping means (50, 52) of the first pair of gripping means is arranged such that its inner edge (55) is located closer to the principal axis of symmetry (Hs) of the bag (8) when holding the bag than the inner edge (56) of the gripping means (52) of the second pair of gripping means, which is provided for gripping the bag (8) on the same side of the principal axis of symmetry (Hs) of the bag (8).