Cigarette Packer Inner Frame Coupling with Segmented Extractor Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for coupling an inner frame to groups of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, often result in damage to the cigarettes during the process and are not suitable for high-speed production.
Innovation Solution
A packer machine and wrapping method that uses a forming unit with a conveyor system and a transfer station with a common extractor device to couple an inner frame to two groups of cigarettes, ensuring precise alignment and protection of the cigarettes while maintaining high production speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common extractor device is used to couple the inner frame to the group of cigarettes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and risk of damage to cigarettes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common extractor device is segmented into two independent extractor arms that can operate independently. Each arm is equipped with its own cigarette group holder and inner frame holder, allowing separate control of extraction timing and positioning for each cigarette group, thereby achieving high coupling precision while maintaining device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The extractor device incorporates dynamic control mechanisms that allow the two extractor arms to move at different speeds and positions independently. This dynamic capability enables precise coordination of the inner frame with each cigarette group during extraction, ensuring accurate coupling without requiring complex separate extraction systems
2Productivity
If the production speed is increased, then the productivity improves, but the risk of damage to cigarettes during coupling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cigarette groups are pre-positioned in dedicated holders that maintain their spatial arrangement before extraction. The inner frame is also pre-positioned in its holder with predetermined orientation. This preliminary positioning ensures that during high-speed extraction, the components are already aligned for coupling, eliminating the need for high-speed adjustment that could cause cigarette damage
Solution Approach 2:
Dedicated holders serve as intermediary devices between the cigarette groups and the extraction mechanism. These holders protect the cigarettes during handling and extraction by providing stable support and controlled movement interfaces, allowing high-speed operation without direct contact between the extraction mechanism and the fragile cigarette groups
3Manufacturing precision
If separate extractor devices are used for each cigarette group, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the device complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two extraction functions are merged into a single common extractor device structure. The device shares common components such as the motor drive, control system, and housing, while incorporating two independent extractor arms with their own holders. This merging achieves the precision of separate devices while reducing overall complexity and cost through component sharing
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Packer machine and wrapping method to couple an inner frame (8) to two groups (5) of smoking articles having two main walls (9, 10) and two dividing walls (12) interposed between the main walls (9, 10). The following are provided: a seat (22) designed to hold the inner frame (8) in a spread condition; a conveyor (21), which moves the seat (22) along a feeding path (P1); a pocket (24) designed to house the inner frame (8) in an at least partially folded condition; an input station (S4) arranged along the feeding path (P1) and configured to feed the spread inner frame (8) to the seat (22) of the conveyor (21); and a transfer station (S5) arranged along the feeding path (P1) and configured to transfer the inner frame (8) from the seat (22) to the pocket (24). The seat (22) of the conveyor (21) is designed to only hold the inner frame (8) in a spread condition, so that the inner frame (8) reaches the transfer station (S5) in a spread condition. The transfer station (S5) has a transfer device (25) configured to transfer the inner frame (8) from the seat (22) to the pocket (24), simultaneously folding the inner frame (8).