Bendable Label with Openings for Twine Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for attaching labels to agricultural bales, such as twine, face challenges in ensuring secure attachment and traceability, particularly in environments with dust and agricultural residues that can compromise adhesive bonds.

Innovation Solution

A device and method utilizing bendable labels with specific openings that clamp onto elongate flexible objects like twine, allowing for secure attachment without adhesives, using bending means to push the label onto the object and maintain tension, along with transport and separation mechanisms to ensure reliable and efficient label application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If adhesive bonds are used to attach labels to agricultural bales, then the label attachment method is simple, but the reliability of attachment is compromised in environments with dust and agricultural residues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabel attachment methodVSAvoidattachment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical adhesive bonding system with a mechanical fastening system. The label includes openings that allow an elongate flexible object (such as twine or wire) to pass through, creating a mechanical anchor that secures the label to the bale. This mechanical attachment method is not affected by dust or agricultural residues, thereby maintaining reliability in demanding agricultural environments while remaining simple to implement.

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

2Device complexity

If the label is made compact for integration into bale presses, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation for label application may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidlabel application ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The label design incorporates self-aligning features where the openings are positioned to automatically align with the elongate flexible object as it passes through the bale pressing mechanism. The label's own structure facilitates its attachment process, reducing the need for complex positioning mechanisms and manual intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation within a compact device configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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, adhesive-free attachment method that maintains label position for easy reading, is compact for integration into bale presses, and is cost-effective, ensuring high reliability and efficiency in demanding agricultural environments.

Implementation Method 1

the label is bendable and adapted to clamp the elongate flexible object in the first opening and the second opening under bending stress of the label

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3390236B1Labeller and method for agricultural bale press
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 OCTINION TECH GRP NV
  • EP3390236B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3390236B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3390236B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Device (100) and method for attaching a label (11,12) for identifying a bale to an elongate flexible object (1), wherein the device comprises storage means (20) for the label and attachment means (40) for attaching the label to the elongate flexible object, and wherein the label, on its edge, has an opening (14) which is adapted to attach the label to the elongate flexible object (1).