Bag Sealing Apparatus Vibration Measurement for Quality Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bag sealing apparatuses in intermittent bagging packaging machines face challenges in accurately determining the quality of the sealing process due to linked operations between bag conveyance and sealing member movements, leading to potential poor sealing and leakage issues.

Innovation Solution

A bag sealing apparatus with separate drive sources for bag conveyance and sealing member operations, incorporating a vibration measurement device to assess the acceleration of sealing members during the sealing process, allowing for independent control of sealing member movement speed and position to ensure effective sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the operation of sealing members is linked to the rotation operation of cam driven by common drive source, then the sealing process is synchronized with bag conveyance, but the opening-closing speed of sealing members becomes dependent on rotation speed of cam which decreases as cycle time increases, making it difficult to accurately determine sealing quality through vibration measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing quality determination accuracyVSAvoidopening-closing speed of sealing members
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates the drive sources for bag conveyance and sealing member operation into independent systems. The bag conveyance is driven by a rotary table with first drive source, while sealing members are driven by a second drive source that can independently control opening-closing speed and timing, eliminating the dependency where sealing speed decreased as cycle time increased.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic control of sealing member speed through the second drive source, allowing the opening-closing speed to be adjusted independently of the bag conveyance cycle time. This enables maintaining optimal sealing speed regardless of whether the cycle time is long or short, thereby ensuring consistent vibration signal quality for accurate sealing quality determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If sealing members remain in closed position for long time to suit other processes in series of bagging processes, then bag conveyance and other processes are coordinated, but the sealing process is excessively performed leading to potential poor sealing quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination of bag conveyance with other processesVSAvoidsealing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary determination of sealing quality by measuring vibration signals during the sealing process and determining whether sealing is successful before the sealing members open. This allows the system to identify poor sealing early and take corrective action, preventing defective bags from proceeding to subsequent processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where vibration signals from the sealing process are measured and analyzed to determine sealing quality. This feedback information is used to control the opening-closing operation of sealing members and to identify when excessive sealing time or improper sealing conditions have occurred, allowing real-time adjustment to maintain sealing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate drive sources are used for bag conveyance and sealing member operation, then opening-closing speed of sealing members can be independently controlled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent control of sealing member movementVSAvoidnumber of drive sources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the second drive source to perform multiple functions: driving the opening-closing movement of sealing members, controlling the timing of sealing operation, and enabling independent speed adjustment. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional separate mechanisms despite the increased control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 accurate determination of sealing process quality by generating distinct vibration patterns based on the presence of foreign matter, preventing leakage and ensuring reliable bag sealing.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration measurement device which measures vibration of at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a sealing process is performed by applying a high frequency (an electromagnetic wave) or ultrasonic waves from the pair of sealing members to the two sheet bodies to weld the two sheet bodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh frequency electromagnetic waves: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a sealing process is performed by applying a high frequency (an electromagnetic wave) or ultrasonic waves from the pair of sealing members to the two sheet bodies to weld the two sheet bodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic waves: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4008528B1Bag sealing apparatus and bag sealing method
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 PACRAFT CO LTD
  • EP4008528B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4008528B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4008528B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vibration measurement device (50) measures vibration of at least one of the first sealing member (21) and the second sealing member (22). A determination device (53) determines quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device (50) from before the first sealing member (21) and the second sealing member (22) reach the closed position to after the first sealing member (21) and the second sealing member (22) reach the closed position. The sealing drive unit (23) causes relative movement between the first sealing member (21) and the second sealing member (22) from an open position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag (B), to place the first sealing member (21) and the second sealing member (22) in the closed position.