External Guide Pressure Jaw Assembly for Sealing Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The pressure jaw assembly in sealing jaw arrangements of filling machines often experiences uneven sealing pressure due to fatigue of rubber bushings, leading to inefficiencies in the sealing process.

Innovation Solution

A pressure jaw assembly design that eliminates internal guides like rubber bushings by using externally arranged guides, allowing for a more robust and reliable sealing mechanism with reduced risk of fatigue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rubber bushings are used as internal guides in the pressure jaw assembly, then the pressure element can be guided during movement, but the rubber bushings are prone to fatigue and degradation, leading to uneven sealing pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing pressure consistencyVSAvoidservice life of guiding components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the rubber bushings from the pressure element and relocates the guiding function to external guides connected to the pressure jaw frame. This extraction eliminates the fatigue-prone internal guiding components while maintaining the necessary guidance function through externally mounted guides that are more durable and easier to replace.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having internal guides within the pressure element, the patent inverts the arrangement by placing guides externally on the pressure jaw frame. This inversion transfers the guiding function from the moving pressure element to the stationary frame, improving reliability by keeping the guiding components separate from the high-stress moving parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If rubber bushings are used as internal guides, then the pressure element is guided, but the design complexity increases and manufacturing becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguiding functionVSAvoidinternal component structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the guiding function from the internal structure of the pressure element and implements it through external guides. This simplifies the pressure element design by removing internal guiding components, reducing manufacturing complexity, and making the overall structure easier to produce and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Force

If compressing means are placed between the pressure jaw frame and pressure element, then sufficient pressure can be applied to the tube, but the assembly becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing pressureVSAvoidpressure assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the compressing means (such as springs) directly into the pressure element assembly, integrating the pressure-generating function with the guiding structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall assembly while maintaining the capability to apply sufficient sealing pressure to the tube.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 provides a pressure jaw assembly that maintains consistent sealing pressure, reduces the risk of component degradation, and simplifies manufacturing by minimizing internal components.

Implementation Method 1

a compressing means arranged at least partly between said pressure jaw frame and said pressure element, said compressing means being arranged to influence the relative movement between said pressure element and said pressure jaw frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3347188B1A pressure jaw assembly and a sealing jaw arrangement
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP3347188B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3347188B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3347188B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pressure jaw assembly (1) for a sealing jaw arrangement of a filling machine. The pressure jaw assembly (1) comprises a pressure jaw frame (10), a pressure element (20) arranged to be moved relative the pressure jaw frame (10), a compressing means (40) arranged at least partly between the pressure jaw frame (10) and the pressure element (20). The compressing means (40) is arranged to influence the relative movement between the pressure element (20) and the pressure jaw frame (10). The pressure jaw assembly (1) further comprises a guide (50, 52) for guiding the pressure element (20). The guide (50, 52) is connected to the pressure jaw frame (10), and the guide (50, 52) is arranged externally of the pressure element (20).