Continuous Motion Packer for Twin Tobacco Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packer machines for manufacturing 'TWIN' packets of cigarettes operate with intermittent motion, leading to low productivity and mechanical stress, which hinders high hourly production while maintaining quality.
Innovation Solution
A packer machine designed with a continuous motion system, featuring a coupling unit with a rotating coupling wheel and cam actuating devices to handle inner wraps and collars, allowing for synchronized and efficient packaging of two distinct groups of cigarettes within a rigid outer container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intermittent motion is used in the packer machine, then the machine structure is simpler, but the hourly productivity is reduced due to continuous accelerations and decelerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous motion of the coupling wheel without intermittent stops, allowing the packaging process to proceed without cyclic acceleration and deceleration phases. This eliminates the productivity limitation of intermittent motion systems while maintaining structural simplicity through the continuous rotational mechanism driven by cam actuating devices.
2Manufacturing precision
If intermittent motion with continuous accelerations and decelerations is used, then the device complexity is lower, but the production quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By maintaining continuous motion of the coupling wheel, the system eliminates the quality deterioration caused by repeated accelerations and decelerations. The cam actuating devices provide smooth, continuous control of the support bodies throughout the rotational cycle, ensuring consistent packaging precision without requiring complex intermittent motion control systems.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If intermittent motion is used, then the machine design is simpler, but mechanical stress on cigarettes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous motion system eliminates the mechanical stress on cigarettes that results from cyclic acceleration and deceleration in intermittent motion systems. The coupling wheel rotates continuously with smooth cam-controlled movements of the support bodies, preventing the shock and vibration that would otherwise damage the packaged cigarettes.
4Productivity
If high hourly productivity is pursued, then the production efficiency improves, but mechanical stress on cigarettes increases due to faster cyclic operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high hourly productivity through continuous motion of the coupling wheel, which eliminates the mechanical stress inherent in faster cyclic operations. The continuous rotational movement with cam actuated support bodies provides smooth handling at high speeds without the shock and vibration that would damage cigarettes in intermittent motion systems operating at equivalent productivity levels.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Packer machine (6) and wrapping method to manufacture a packet (I) of tobacco articles containing two distinct groups (4) of tobacco articles; the following are provided: a coupling wheel (II) which rotates with continuous motion around a rotation axis (12) and supports a pair of coupling pockets (17); a feeding station (SI) in which a first group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a first coupling pocket (17) and, subsequently, a second group (4) of tobacco articles is fed to a second coupling pocket (17); an actuating device which brings, downstream of the feeding station (SI), the two coupling pockets (17) closer to each other, until the two coupling pockets (17) are side by side; and a releasing station (S3), in which the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are extracted together from both the coupling pockets (17) arranged side by side, so that the two groups (4) of tobacco articles are side by side when they come out of the coupling pockets (17).