Bag Filling Machine Sealing Element Dust Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Filling and closing bags with dusty bulk goods using existing FFS machines results in contamination, increased packaging material usage, and instability due to air displacement and dust leakage, which complicates the closing process and environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
The use of clamping means with grippers or suction cups to tension the bag material, combined with sealing elements and ventilation pipes to manage air pressure and prevent dust escape, along with the integration of filters and vibration to compact the material, ensures a cleaner and more efficient filling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gravity or free fall is used to fill dusty bulk goods, then the filling process is simple, but air displacement causes dust contamination and requires perforations that allow product dust to escape
Solution Approach 1:
A filling tube with a closed end is introduced as an intermediary component between the filling hopper and the bag. This tube prevents direct free-fall of dusty material into the bag, instead conveying material through a controlled path that minimizes air displacement and dust escape while maintaining filling simplicity
2Productivity
If free fall filling is used, then the filling speed is high, but the product volume increases significantly due to air enrichment, requiring larger packaging material
Solution Approach 1:
The closing tube acts as a mediator that controls the filling process, preventing excessive air entrapment while maintaining high filling speed. This allows accurate volume control and reduces packaging material requirements without sacrificing productivity
3Loss of time
If the bag is closed before air can escape, then the closing time is reduced, but the bag cannot be stacked or stored properly
Solution Approach 1:
The filling tube is designed to be inserted into the bag opening before the filling process begins, creating a sealed pathway that allows air to be gradually displaced and escaped during filling. This preliminary preparation enables both timely closing and proper bag stability for stacking
4Manufacturing precision
If grippers are used to pull bag corners to tighten the opening, then the sealing is improved, but the bag material is stretched and may leak
Solution Approach 1:
The closing tube serves as a mediator that provides a stable, non-stretchable structure for sealing. Instead of relying on stretched bag material held by grippers, the tube maintains sealing pressure while preventing material deformation, thus improving both sealing quality and bag integrity
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
This approach reduces dust leakage, stabilizes the filled bags, and allows for appropriate packaging size selection by compacting the material, thereby minimizing environmental impact and improving the efficiency of the filling and closing process.
Implementation Method 1
grippers or suction cups that grab or suck parts of the bag material and pull them outwards
Implementation Method 2
a vibration generator (29), wherein the dosing tube (2, 21) is made to vibrate by means of the vibration generator (29)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine for filling and sealing bags, characterised by at least the following: a filling station (60) in which the bags (11) are filled; grip means (10, 18) for transporting the bag (8, 11) between processing stations; a dosing element (2) which protrudes into the bag (11) during a dosing process; movement means for creating a relative movement between the bag (11) and the dosing element (2) in the filling station, in order to enable the dosing element (2) to protrude into the bag; and a connecting piece (3, 112) which surrounds at least parts of the dosing element (2), and can be positioned between the inside wall of the bag and the dosing element (2). The relative position of the dosing element (2) and the connecting piece (3, 112) can be modified. The machine especially comprises clamping means (107, 108, 117) for gripping the bag (11) at least in a target region (118) located at least in the region of the side walls (102, 103) of the bag, at least in the upper region of the bag. Said clamping means are positioned in such a way that they can grip the bag in the nominal position in the filling station (60), and comprise actuators (117) which pull the target regions (118) of the bag away from the main axis of symmetry (120) of the bag (8).