Bag Sealing Winding Unit for Airtight Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for closing bags filled with bread or bread products, particularly those made of thin film material or paper, face challenges such as complexity, lack of airtightness, and difficulty in using welding or adhesive seams, which can compromise the freshness and shelf life of the contents.

Innovation Solution

A device and method utilizing a winding unit with rotatably mounted needles to wrap and secure the bag end section, combined with a labeling unit for applying an adhesive label, allowing for a metal-free, seam-free closure that ensures airtightness and ease of use, particularly suitable for thin film or paper bags.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If welding or adhesive seams are used to close the bag opening, then the bag can be sealed, but the process is difficult with thin film or paper bags and requires curing time which delays the packaging process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal welding or chemical adhesive bonding with a purely mechanical winding closure system. Two winding needles mechanically wrap the bag opening in a spiral pattern, creating a physical barrier that seals the bag without requiring heat or adhesive curing, thus eliminating delays and compatibility issues with thin materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The winding needles are designed to work specifically with flexible thin film or paper bag materials. The mechanical winding action conforms to the flexibility of these materials, allowing effective sealing of thin-film bags that are incompatible with rigid welding or gluing processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If adhesive labels are used to secure the folded bag end, then the bag can be closed, but the adhesive must cure which negatively delays or complicates the packaging process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure effectivenessVSAvoidpackaging time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the adhesive labeling process with a direct mechanical winding action. The winding needles themselves perform the sealing function by mechanically wrapping and friction-locking the bag material, eliminating the need for adhesive application and curing time entirely

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The winding needles create a self-locking mechanical structure where the spiral winding pattern inherently secures itself through friction and geometric interlocking, without requiring external adhesive substances or curing processes to maintain the seal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If upward-projecting flaps are folded inwards and secured with adhesive label, then the bag can be sealed, but the bag does not have a high degree of airtightness meaning foodstuffs cannot be kept fresh

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing simplicityVSAvoidairtightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The winding needles create a spiral or curved winding pattern around the bag opening rather than a simple linear fold. This curved mechanical wrapping conformally seals the bag circumference, creating superior airtightness compared to flat adhesive labels while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Reliability

If a flexible closure band is used to close the bag, then the bag can be sealed, but complex equipment and expertise are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosure functionalityVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The closure system is segmented into two simple functional components: the winding needles for mechanical wrapping and the adhesive label for final securing. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex flexible closure band mechanisms while maintaining reliable sealing functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex flexible closure band mechanism entirely, replacing it with the simpler winding needle system. Only the essential sealing function remains, achieved through mechanical winding rather than complex elastic band mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution provides a reliable, food-compliant, and easy-to-design bag closure that maintains freshness by ensuring airtightness and simplifies the packaging process, enabling efficient closure of bags without the need for metal parts or adhesive seams.

Implementation Method 1

a labeling unit for applying an adhesive label to the wrapped bag, wherein the wrapped end section of the bag can be fixed to the remaining section of the bag via the adhesive label

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4276022A1Device for machine-sealing a bag filled with filling material, in particular bread, and operating method therefor
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 GEORG HARTMANN MASCHB GMBH
  • EP4276022A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276022A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4276022A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for the mechanical sealing of a bag (2) filled with contents, in particular bread (15), comprising at least one wrapping unit (4) for sectionally wrapping the bag (2) at an end section facing a bag opening (3) along a longitudinal direction (B) of the bag (2), wherein the wrapping unit (4) has a winding spindle (5) rotatably mounted by at least 360° and two winding needles (6.1, 6.2) held parallel to each other on the winding spindle (5), which are designed to grip the bag (2) on both sides in an engagement position, and a labeling unit (7) for applying an adhesive label (9) to the wrapped bag (2), wherein the wrapped end section of the bag (2) can be fixed to the remaining section of the bag (2) via the adhesive label (9).Furthermore, the invention relates to an operating method for a device (1) for mechanically closing a bag (2) filled with filling material, in particular bread (15), in particular for a device (1) according to the invention.