Elastic Welding Housing for Pleated Capsule Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for welding pleated capsule bodies to reinforcing elements, particularly with fixed geometry welders, face challenges in precision and effectiveness due to positioning issues and the need for complex multi-step welding processes, which can lead to reduced stability and increased material waste.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an elastic welding housing that can move and deform coaxially with the welder, allowing for adjustable welding force and precision by varying its position, shape, or dimensions, ensuring optimal contact and alignment during the welding process, even with initially misaligned components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a fixed geometry welder is used to weld the pleated capsule body to the reinforcing element, then the welding device structure is simple, but the positioning precision and welding effectiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding device structureVSAvoidwelding positioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The welding housing is designed to be elastically movable and deformable, transforming from a static fixed-geometry structure to a dynamic adaptive structure. The elastic means enable the housing to automatically adjust its position and shape during welding, allowing the welder to maintain precise contact with the pleated capsule body and reinforcing element even when components are initially misaligned, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and positioning precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic properties of the welding housing are utilized to change physical parameters (position, shape, dimensions) in response to welding forces. The housing deforms elastically under the thrust of the welder, adapting to variations in component positioning and ensuring consistent welding quality without requiring complex positioning mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the welding housing is rigid and fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the welding precision and reliability are reduced due to component misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding housing structureVSAvoidwelding bond strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic means act as a cushioning element that anticipates and absorbs positioning variations and misalignments before they affect welding quality. The elastic deformability provides a buffer that compensates for initial component misalignment, ensuring reliable welding contact without requiring overly complex positioning or adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If multi-step welding processes are used to accommodate positioning issues, then welding coverage is improved, but the process complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding coverageVSAvoidwelding process steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the positioning adjustment function from the complex multi-step welding process and integrates it into the welding housing itself. The elastic means provide continuous adaptive positioning throughout the welding operation, eliminating the need for separate positioning steps and reducing the overall process complexity while maintaining comprehensive welding coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This solution enhances the precision and reliability of the welding process, ensuring a strong and stable bond between the pleated capsule body and the reinforcing element, while simplifying the process and reducing material waste.

Implementation Method 1

elastic means coupled to said welding housing in such a way that said welding housing is elastically movable and/or elastically deformable by the thrust of said welder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4371739A1Welding unit for machine for forming capsules with pleated capsule body
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 ICA SPA
  • EP4371739A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4371739A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4371739A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A welding unit for a machine for forming capsules having a pleated capsule body (101) and a reinforcing element (102) is presented, said welding unit comprising: a welding housing (510) configured to accommodate said reinforcing element (102) and said pleated capsule body (101) coaxially during welding; a welder (520), preferably with fixed geometry, coaxial with respect to said welding housing (510) and configured to be inserted within said welding housing (510) and to weld said reinforcing element (102) to said pleated capsule body (101), wherein said welding housing (510) acts as a counter element for said welder (520) during welding. The welding unit further comprises elastic means (531) coupled to said welding housing (510) in such a way that said welding housing (510) is elastically movable and/or elastically deformable by the thrust of said welder (520).