Common Sealing Device for Wrapping Drum Heat-Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wrapping machines for cigarettes face challenges in achieving high hourly productivity while maintaining consistent product quality due to complex setup processes and lower repeatability caused by transverse support elements mounted on each pocket of the wrapping drum, leading to increased part replacement and variability in heat-sealing quality.
Innovation Solution
A wrapping method and packer machine design that uses a single common sealing device for all pockets, with a passive folding mechanism and a rotating wrapping drum, allowing for efficient folding and heat-sealing of a heat-sealable sheet around cigarettes, eliminating the need for multiple transverse support elements and simplifying the setup and maintenance process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transverse support elements are mounted on each pocket of the wrapping drum, then the heat-sealing function is provided for each pocket, but the setup process becomes more complex and requires longer execution time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat-sealing function from multiple individual transverse support elements into a single common sealing device that serves all pockets of the wrapping drum. This common sealing device is positioned outside the drum and performs heat-sealing for multiple pockets simultaneously or sequentially, eliminating the need for each pocket to have its own transverse support element with heating capability.
2Reliability
If transverse support elements are mounted on each pocket of the wrapping drum, then heat-sealing is performed for each pocket, but the execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat-sealing operations into a single common sealing device that can service multiple pockets, reducing the total number of heating elements and their associated setup and maintenance requirements. This merging reduces the time penalty associated with multiple individual elements.
3Device complexity
If a common moveable sealing device is used for all pockets, then the setup process is simplified, but the mechanical coupling with each pocket's transverse support element becomes critical for quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional arrangement by positioning the common sealing device outside the wrapping drum rather than having support elements mounted on the drum itself. This external positioning allows the sealing device to access multiple pockets without requiring precise mechanical coupling between moving parts on the rotating drum and the sealing mechanism.
4Reliability
If transverse support elements are mounted on the wrapping drum, then heat-sealing is performed, but more parts need to be replaced due to wear and size change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple transverse support elements into a single common sealing device, reducing the total number of parts that are subject to wear and size changes. With only one common sealing device instead of multiple individual elements, the frequency and complexity of part replacements are significantly reduced.
5Reliability
If transverse support elements are mounted on each pocket, then heat-sealing is performed for each pocket, but product quality repeatability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat-sealing operations into a single common sealing device that performs the same function for all pockets. This standardization ensures that the same sealing parameters, temperature, pressure, and timing are applied consistently across all pockets, improving product quality repeatability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies homogeneity by using a uniform common sealing device for all pockets, ensuring that the same sealing characteristics are achieved throughout. This eliminates variations that would arise from multiple different transverse support elements with potentially different wear patterns, calibration states, and performance characteristics.
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 enables high hourly productivity with consistent product quality, simplifies setup and maintenance, and reduces part replacement, ensuring precise folding and heat-sealing without the need for complex adjustments or moving heating parts.
Implementation Method 1
Each transverse support element is provided with suction so as to attract and hold the inner flap of the sheet of wrapping material by means of suction
Implementation Method 2
heat-seal the outer flap and the inner flap to one another
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Wrapping method and packer machine (15) to fold a sheet (11) of wrapping material around a group (2) of tobacco articles; the sheet (11) of wrapping material is caused to rest against an upper wall (3) of the group (2) of tobacco articles; the sheet (11) of wrapping material is "U"-folded around the group (2) of tobacco articles so that the "U"-folded sheet (11) of wrapping material has two ends (13, 14) that protrude from the larger side walls (5, 6) of the group (2) of tobacco articles; the two ends (13, 14) are overlapped to one another, thus giving to the sheet (11) of wrapping material a tubular shape; and the overlapping portions of the two ends (13, 14) of the sheet (11) of wrapping material are heat-sealed so as to stabilize the tubular shape of the sheet (11) of wrapping material and form a sealing fin (F); the two ends (13, 14) are overlapped and heat-sealed to one another while the group (2) of tobacco articles coupled to the sheet (11) of wrapping material is housed in a pocket of a wrapping conveyor (21), which is fed along a wrapping path (P2); and the pocket of the wrapping conveyor (21) is oriented so that the sealing fin, i.e. the overlapping portions of the two ends of the sheet (11) of wrapping material, is arranged parallel to the wrapping path (P2) at least until the heat-sealing process has ended.