Plastic Bag Making Apparatus with Self-Adjusting Movable Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatus for making plastic bags from plastic film requires manual adjustment of movable units, such as the cross heater and cross cooler, which is labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially when changing bag sizes or accounting for film extension or contraction.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes control switches with independent and interlocking move switches that allow for precise adjustment of movable units, such as a longitudinal heater, cooler, cross heater, and cutter, using upstream and downstream optical sensors to maintain accurate positioning and movement in response to film extension or contraction, eliminating the need for manual adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of movable units is used, then the apparatus can be operated, but the adjustment process is labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The movable units are equipped with drive means and control switches that enable them to adjust their own positions automatically. When the control switch is actuated, the drive means moves the movable unit to the appropriate position without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-servicing in the adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated drive mechanism. The drive means, controlled by control switches, substitutes human physical operation with mechanical automation, allowing movable units to reposition themselves automatically based on control signals.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of movable units is used, then the apparatus can be operated, but it requires significant labor effort
Solution Approach 1:
The movable units are equipped with drive means and control switches that enable them to adjust their own positions automatically. When the control switch is actuated, the drive means moves the movable unit to the appropriate position without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-servicing in the adjustment process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the movable units are spaced for a specific bag size, then plastic bags of that size can be produced, but changing to a different bag size requires repositioning all movable units
Solution Approach 1:
The movable units are equipped with drive means and control switches that enable them to adjust their own positions automatically. When the control switch is actuated, the drive means moves the movable unit to the appropriate position without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-servicing in the adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the spacing between movable units dynamic and adjustable. Instead of fixed positions, the movable units can be repositioned along the path using drive means, allowing the system to adapt to different bag sizes by changing the spacing configuration dynamically.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the movable units are repositioned manually for different bag sizes, then the apparatus can produce different sized bags, but the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The movable units are equipped with drive means and control switches that enable them to adjust their own positions automatically. When the control switch is actuated, the drive means moves the movable unit to the appropriate position without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-servicing in the adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The control switches are positioned to allow operators to initiate repositioning actions in advance of actual production needs. The drive means can move movable units to predetermined positions before production cycles begin, ensuring readiness for different bag sizes without disrupting production flow.
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 solution enables efficient and accurate positioning and movement of movable units without manual intervention, reducing labor and time required for adjustments and ensuring consistent bag production regardless of film extension or contraction.
Implementation Method 1
The movable units further comprise upstream and downstream optical sensors disposed upstream and downstream of the cross heater. The upstream or downstream optical sensor detects a position at which the webs of plastic film are printed
Implementation Method 2
The webs of plastic film are longitudinally heat sealed, cooled, cross heat sealed, cooled and cut by the longitudinal heater, the longitudinal cooler, the cross heater, the cross cooler and the cutter
Implementation Method 3
The webs of plastic film are longitudinally heat sealed, cooled, cross heat sealed, cooled and cut by the longitudinal heater, the longitudinal cooler, the cross heater, the cross cooler and the cutter
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for successively making plastic bags of plastic film (1) includes feeding means (2, 3) by which webs of plastic film are fed longitudinally thereof and intermittently along a path. The apparatus further includes a plurality of movable units (4-8) spaced from each other along the path for processing the plastic film. The movable units are supported for movement longitudinally of the webs of plastic film. The apparatus further includes a plurality of drive means each of which is mounted on a movable unit for moving the movable unit. Each of the movable units is provided with a control panel with switches (19-26). Each of the control panels works on each of the drive means to move the corresponding unit for adjustment of position when being actuated.