Automated Bread Wrapping Machine Pass-Through Slide Deck
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bread wrapping machines require significant space and additional equipment when converting from a wrapping to a pass-through operation, as they need to be made portable or rerouted, which is inefficient and space-consuming.
Innovation Solution
The machine is modified to enable quick changeover between wrapping and pass-through modes by disabling the wrapping material feed, raising the forming box, and using a slide deck with pusher bars to move loaves independently through the feed path, allowing direct transfer to a bagger without wrapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wrapping machine is made portable or rerouted for pass-through operation, then the machine can be converted to pass-through mode, but more floor space and additional equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The wrapping machine is designed with a dual-function feed path that can operate in both wrapping mode and pass-through mode using the same physical space. The feed path serves as both the wrapping conveyor and the pass-through conveyor, eliminating the need for separate routing equipment and reducing floor space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the wrapping function and pass-through function into a single integrated machine structure. The forming box, feed path, and transfer mechanism are shared between both operations, allowing the machine to perform multiple functions without requiring additional equipment or space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If portable wrapping machines on casters are used, then the machine can be moved laterally off the feed line, but additional transfer conveyors and routing equipment are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The feed path is designed to serve dual purposes: it acts as the wrapping conveyor when wrapping is active, and as the pass-through conveyor when wrapping is disabled. This eliminates the need for separate transfer conveyors and routing equipment, significantly reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the wrapping function from the feed path by disabling the wrapping material feed and raising the forming box, allowing the feed path to be used directly for pass-through operation without requiring removal or modification of the entire machine structure.
3Productivity
If the forming box is lowered for wrapping operation, then wrapping can be applied to loaves, but the loaves cannot pass through without wrapping
Solution Approach 1:
The forming box is designed to be vertically adjustable, allowing it to be lowered for wrapping operations and raised for pass-through operations. This dynamic positioning enables the machine to switch between modes by changing the forming box height, facilitating quick conversion without permanent structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide deck acts as an intermediary surface that allows loaves to pass through the feed path smoothly when the forming box is raised. The smooth upper surface of the slide deck provides a dedicated path for pass-through operation, mediating between the raised forming box and the loaves to enable uninterrupted movement.
Data Source
AI summary
In an automatic horizontal wrapping machine for applying a wrapper to consecutive bread loaves moved along a feed path through the machine, changeover to operation allowing the loaves to pass through the machine without being wrapped is accomplished by: disabling a feed for wrapping material; shifting and maintaining a wrapping material forming box out of the feed path; installing a slide deck defining the bottom of the feed path; providing a transfer component to move loaves along the feed path by sliding on the deck separate and apart from and independent of the transfer mechanism used by the machine when wrapping; and disabling a cutter-sealing component sufficiently so as not to interfere with passage of bread loaves past the cutter-sealer; to allow the bread loaves to pass through the machine along the feed path without being wrapped.