Bag Filling Guide Frames for Clog Clearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bag filling and packaging apparatuses face productivity degradation due to hopper clogging, as they lack effective means to automatically clear clogs without halting operations, leading to inefficiencies when clogging occurs.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a guide member with opening and closing guide frames and a receiving member, which operates in the non-filling region to clear clogs by repeatedly opening and closing the frames, and uses detection sensors to control the process, ensuring continuous operation and minimal productivity loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the bottom-end openings of the hoppers are set to a relatively small size to match the size of the bag mouths, then the product can be properly filled into the bags, but product can easily clog the hopper and the apparatus has no means of detecting or clearing such clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as an intermediary component between the hopper and the bag. It has a guide portion with a smaller diameter than the hopper's bottom-end opening, which guides the product into the bag while preventing clogging. The guide member can be detached and replaced, allowing for easy maintenance and clearing of clogs without stopping the entire apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The product discharge system is segmented into multiple components: the hopper, the guide member with guide portion, and the bag. This segmentation allows the guide member to be specifically designed with a smaller diameter opening for precise product guidance while the hopper maintains a larger opening for reliable product supply, resolving the contradiction between filling precision and clogging resistance.
2Reliability
If alligator frames are disposed at the bottom of the hopper to open and close for introducing product into the bag, then clogging can be prevented, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex alligator frame mechanism is extracted from the hopper and replaced with a simpler guide member that has a smaller diameter guide portion. The guide member achieves clogging prevention through its geometric design rather than mechanical opening/closing action, significantly reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a large opening with a closing mechanism (alligator frames), the invention inverts the approach by using a smaller diameter guide portion that naturally guides product flow without requiring active opening/closing mechanisms. This passive geometric solution replaces the active mechanical solution.
3Productivity
If detection sensors and automatic clearing mechanisms are added to detect and clear clogs, then productivity can be maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is designed to be easily detachable and replaceable, allowing operators to quickly remove and replace guide members during maintenance. This self-service design minimizes the need for complex automatic clearing mechanisms while maintaining high productivity, as the simple geometric design naturally prevents clogging in the first place.
Data Source
AI summary
A bag filling and packaging apparatus including hollow guide members that are disposed below ascending/descending hoppers and guide product dropping from hoppers into the interior of bags, the guide members being raised/lowered and moved together with the hoppers in a filling region. The guide members comprise a pair of opening and closing guide frames that are disposed to face each other; and when clogging is detected in a guide member, its guide frames are repeatedly opened and closed while moving through a non-filling region, thus promoting the dropping of product. Directly below the guide members is provided a receiving member that receives the product.