Cam-Controlled Sealing Tabs for Precise Package Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing package forming apparatuses and packaging machines for pourable products, such as those used for liquid or pourable food products, require improvements in precision and ease of installation of interaction tabs and cam mechanisms to ensure accurate transversal sealing and cutting of packages.

Innovation Solution

A package forming apparatus with a cam mechanism controlling movable interaction tabs to precisely control the transversal sealing and cutting of tubes, utilizing a simple design that allows for easy installation and precise control of the interaction tabs' positions, ensuring packages are formed with the desired pattern and sealed effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a cam mechanism with interaction tabs is used to control the operative groups, then the precision and consistency of package formation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of package formationVSAvoidcomplexity of cam mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cam mechanism acts as an intermediary device that translates rotational motion into precise linear motion of the interaction tabs. The cam profile is specifically designed to control the timing and position of tab interaction with the tube, ensuring consistent package formation without requiring complex control systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The interaction tabs are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically engage and disengage from the tube during operation. This dynamic configuration enables precise control of the tube during sealing and cutting operations while maintaining simplicity in the overall mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the interaction tabs are controlled between two limit positions, then the efficiency of transverse sealing and cutting is improved, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of sealing and cuttingVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cam mechanism is driven by a rotating cam that periodically actuates the interaction tabs between the two limit positions. This periodic action is synchronized with the tube advancement, ensuring that sealing and cutting operations occur at the correct intervals and positions, thereby improving efficiency without requiring complex control logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The cam mechanism automatically controls the interaction tabs through its mechanical profile, eliminating the need for external sensors, actuators, or control systems. The geometry of the cam itself encodes the timing and position information, allowing the mechanism to self-regulate its operation for efficient sealing and cutting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the tube is advanced through an isolation chamber for sterilization, then the reliability of sterile packaging is improved, but the loss of time in the packaging process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterility of packagingVSAvoidtime for sterilization process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tube is sterilized in the isolation chamber before filling operations commence. This preliminary sterilization ensures that the packaging material is sterile before it contacts the pourable product, guaranteeing package sterility without requiring time-consuming sterilization steps during production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tube forming, sealing, and cutting operations continue uninterrupted while the tube passes through the isolation chamber. The sterilization process occurs concurrently with the packaging operations, eliminating downtime and maintaining continuous production flow while ensuring sterility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4410522B1Package forming apparatus for a packaging machine and packaging machine for forming packages filled with a pourable product
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP4410522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4410522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4410522B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

There is described a package forming apparatus (10) comprising an operative device (23) having a first operative group (24) and a second operative group (25) configured to at least transversally seal a tube (4) made from a web of packaging material (3). One of the respective first operative group (24) and the respective second operative group (25) comprises a pair (46) of movable interaction tabs (26). The package forming apparatus (10) comprises a cam mechanism (28) configured to control the relative position of the interaction tabs (26) of the pair of interaction tabs (26). The cam mechanism (28) comprises at least a cam channel (29) and a cam follower (30) coupled to the pair of interaction tabs (26), movably arranged within the cam channel (29), and being configured to move within the cam channel (28) along an advancement direction (D1). The interaction of the cam follower (30) with the cam channel (29) allows to control the relative position of the interaction tabs (26) with respect to one another.