Form-Fill-Seal Machine Transverse Sealing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing form-fill-seal machines require manual adjustment of gas content within bags to control bag thickness, which increases processing time and can lead to instability in packaged goods due to varying gas amounts.
Innovation Solution
A form-fill-seal machine with a transverse sealing unit and control system that efficiently seals packaging material by controlling the position and movement of sealing jaws, allowing for precise gas inflation and adjustment of bag thickness during the sealing process, including blowing gas into bags during and after sealing to control internal gas content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of gas content is performed by operator, then bag thickness can be controlled, but processing time increases and stability of packaged goods deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically controls gas inflation by detecting bag thickness and adjusting gas flow accordingly. The control unit monitors thickness measurements and autonomously regulates the gas blowing amount to achieve target thickness, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and ensuring consistent results.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates thickness detection devices that continuously measure bag thickness during the inflation process. The control unit receives real-time thickness data and adjusts gas flow rates dynamically to maintain target thickness, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures precision without manual intervention.
2Manufacturing precision
If gas is blown into bags after sealing, then bag thickness can be adjusted, but sealing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs gas inflation during the sealing process rather than after completion. The gas blowing is initiated before the sealing cycle ends, allowing the bag to reach target thickness concurrently with sealing operations. This preliminary action eliminates the sequential time penalty and integrates multiple functions into a single operational window.
3Manufacturing precision
If transverse sealing unit moves slowly, then sealing quality improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse sealing unit employs variable speed movement controlled by a control unit. The sealing jaw moves at different speeds during different phases: faster movement during positioning and slower movement during actual sealing contact. This dynamic speed adjustment maintains sealing quality while improving overall productivity by avoiding uniformly slow movement.
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a form-fill-seal machine that can efficiently seal a packaging material. The form-fill-seal machine is provided with: a conveyance unit for downwardly conveying the packaging material; a transverse sealing unit; and a control unit. The transverse sealing unit has first members (11a, 11b) to sandwich the packaging material and sealing the packaging material in a transverse direction, and second members (55, 75) for squeezing the packaging material while sandwiching the packaging material with a prescribed gap left therebetween. The control unit performs first to third control steps. In the first control step, the control unit causes the packaging material to be squeezed by the second members (55, 75) by causing the transverse sealing unit located at a reference position to descend faster than the packaging material being conveyed downward. In the second control step, the control unit causes the transverse sealing unit to ascend while the packaging material is being sealed by the first members (11a, 11b). In the third control step, the control unit causes the transverse sealing unit to move such that the first members (11a, 11b) are separated from the packaging material, and then returns the transverse sealing unit to the reference position.