Bag Supply Apparatus Alignment via Vacuum Suction and Stopper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines face challenges in correctly aligning and supporting bags with low rigidity, leading to misalignment and bending issues during processing, which can disrupt subsequent packaging processes.
Innovation Solution
A bag supply method and apparatus that includes an arrangement device, a support device, a bag pickup device, a detection sensor, and a holding conveyance device to accurately position and correct misalignment of bags by moving them along a defined path and stopping at a detection position, ensuring proper alignment and support to prevent bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a stopper receives the bottom edge part of a package bag to position it, then the package bag can be positioned by raising and lowering the stopper, but the package bag may be bent due to being received by the stopper, causing displacement in the length direction
Solution Approach 1:
A suction cup is introduced as an intermediary device to hold the package bag before it reaches the stopper. The suction cup grips the bag at its top end, allowing the bag to be positioned and stopped without the bottom edge directly contacting the stopper, thereby preventing bending while maintaining positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical contact-based positioning system (stopper receiving bottom edge) is partially replaced with a vacuum suction system. The suction cup uses vacuum pressure to hold the bag, substituting the direct mechanical contact that caused deformation with a non-contact or minimal-contact holding method
2Manufacturing precision
If a suction cup rotates to correct the inclination of a package bag, then the inclination can be adjusted, but the rotation cannot always properly correct the misalignment in the length direction
Solution Approach 1:
The correction function is segmented into two independent components: a suction cup for correcting inclination (angular alignment) and a stopper for correcting misalignment in the length direction (positional alignment). This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one type of correction, improving overall alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The correction mechanism is extended from one dimension (rotation of suction cup for inclination) to two dimensions by adding the stopper's vertical movement capability. The stopper can move up and down to correct positional misalignment in the length direction, complementing the suction cup's angular correction capability
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 effectively corrects misalignment in the length direction of bags, preventing bending and ensuring smooth processing in packaging machines, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of subsequent packaging operations.
Implementation Method 1
the bag pickup device may hold the bag arranged at the pickup position Pt by vacuum suction
Implementation Method 2
the support device may hold both side edges of the bag and support the bag from below
Implementation Method 3
a bag detection sensor which determines arrival of the bag at a detection position
Data Source
AI summary
A bag supply method includes the steps of: causing an arrangement device to arrange a bag at a pickup position; delivering the bag from the pickup position to a support device via a bag pickup device; moving the bag along with the support device in a traveling direction along a movement path including a detection position; determining arrival of the bag at the detection position; stopping the bag along with the support device on the movement path according to a timing when the bag arrives at the detection position; and delivering the bag stopped in the movement path, from the support device to a bag receiving device via a bag holding conveyance device.