Bag Making Machine Dual Sensor Mark Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The bag making and packaging machine often experiences displacement issues when switching film rolls, leading to improper alignment of marks, which results in unnecessary film wastage due to positional discrepancies in printing and cutting.

Innovation Solution

The machine employs two sensors to accurately determine cutting and printing positions, with the first sensor positioned downstream of the longitudinal seal mechanism and upstream of the cutting mechanism, and the second sensor positioned upstream of the printing mechanism, allowing for precise operation timing and reduced film wastage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If one sensor is used to detect marks for both printing and cutting operations, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to inability to independently control printing and cutting positions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of sensorsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single sensor function into two separate sensors: a first sensor dedicated to detecting marks for cutting position determination, and a second sensor dedicated to detecting marks for printing position determination. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each detection system, resolving the contradiction between device simplicity and positioning precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If film rolls are joined with adhesive tape manually, then the operation is simple, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to improper alignment of marks at joining portions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm roll replacement simplicityVSAvoidmark alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs mark detection sensors that provide feedback on the actual positions of marks on the film. The control unit uses this feedback information to calculate and compensate for displacement amounts, enabling automatic correction of alignment errors that occur during manual film roll joining, thus maintaining high positioning precision despite simple manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically adjusts operational parameters (such as cutting and printing positions) based on detected mark displacements. By changing these parameters in response to detected alignment errors, the system compensates for improper mark alignment at film joining portions while maintaining ease of manual film replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the feed path between sensor and cutting mechanism is long, then the device layout is flexible, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to extended range of displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice layout flexibilityVSAvoidcutting position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors mark positions through the first sensor and calculates actual displacement amounts. This feedback mechanism allows the system to compensate for any displacement that occurs over long feed paths, enabling flexible device layout while maintaining cutting position accuracy through real-time correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3246262B1Bag manufacturing and packaging machine
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • EP3246262B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3246262B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3246262B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bag making and packaging machine (100) is provided with a feed mechanism (10), a roll holding portion (20), a printing mechanism (30), a former (60), a longitudinal seal mechanism (70), a transverse seal mechanism (75), a cutting mechanism (80), a first sensor (91), and a second sensor (92). The printing mechanism (30) prints information on a film (F). The former (60) causes the two longitudinal sides of the film F to become overlapped. The longitudinal seal mechanism (70) bonds the two longitudinal sides and makes a film tube (FT). The transverse seal mechanism (75) sandwiches and bonds the film tube (FT) and makes a transverse seal portion. The cutting mechanism (80) cuts the film tube (FT) at the transverse seal portion. The first sensor (91) detects a mark on the film F for identifying a cutting position for cutting the film tube FT. The second sensor (92) detects a mark for specifying a printing position of the film (F) where predetermined information is to be printed.