Automated Film Testing Machine with Adjustable Pre-Stretching Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing the mechanical and physical properties of cold-extensible plastic films used for wrapping palletized loads are expensive, labor-intensive, and not readily accessible to manufacturers or users, often resulting in non-optimal wrapping processes that affect the stability and performance of packaged loads.
Innovation Solution
A compact, automated testing machine that performs multiple measurements and tests on plastic films to determine their mechanical and physical characteristics, including pre-stretching, wrapping tension, cling, puncture resistance, and tear resistance, using a combination of pre-stretching rollers, guiding rollers, and testing groups to simulate wrapping conditions and collect data automatically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional testing methods are used to determine mechanical and physical properties of plastic films, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but testing costs increase and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple testing functions (pre-stretching, wrapping, cling measurement, puncture resistance, tear resistance) into a single integrated machine that automatically performs all tests on plastic films, eliminating the need for separate conventional testing methods and reducing manual intervention while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The testing machine is designed with universal multi-functionality to perform diverse film property measurements including mechanical strength, adhesion, puncture resistance, and tear resistance through a single automated system, replacing multiple specialized conventional testing procedures
2Loss of substance
If pre-stretching is applied to reduce film thickness and consumption, then packaging costs decrease, but film mechanical properties may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The machine applies preliminary pre-stretching action to the film under controlled conditions before wrapping, allowing precise measurement of how the film's mechanical properties change with elongation, enabling optimization of pre-stretching parameters to reduce film consumption while maintaining adequate strength
Solution Approach 2:
The testing machine systematically varies pre-stretching parameters (elongation percentage, stretching speed, temperature) to determine the optimal balance between film thinning and mechanical property retention, providing data to guide film consumption reduction while preserving necessary strength
3Reliability
If multiple tests are performed to fully characterize film properties, then packaging performance is optimized, but testing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent testing apparatuses into a single integrated machine that performs pre-stretching, wrapping, cling measurement, puncture resistance, and tear resistance tests in one unified system, reducing overall device complexity while enabling comprehensive film characterization for optimized packaging performance
Solution Approach 2:
The testing machine is designed with universal multi-functionality to perform diverse film property measurements including mechanical strength, adhesion, puncture resistance, and tear resistance through a single automated system, replacing multiple specialized conventional testing procedures
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
Enables precise and accurate characterization of plastic films, reducing manual intervention and costs, allowing for optimal selection and use of films for packaging, thereby improving the stability and performance of palletized loads during transport and storage.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic film is generally stretched or elongated, elastically and/or plastically, before being wrapped around the load
Implementation Method 2
The material of the latter, duly stretched, can, in fact, pass from an elastic behaviour, in which the film tends to return to its original dimension once the stress is over, to a plastic behaviour, in which the film undergoes a permanent deformation
Implementation Method 3
when the stretching force provided to the film to stretch it stops, the elastic return thereof determines a tightening force on the load that enables to hold and contain products composing it
Implementation Method 4
the possible adhesiveness of one of the two sides of the film, generally the inner one (cling side) which tends to stick (in some films due to the introduction of adhesive materials or of the composition with layers of low density polyethylene) to the underlying layer of film
Data Source
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AI summary
A testing machine (1) to perform a plurality of measurements and/or tests on a film (100) made of plastics in order to determine mechanical and physical properties of the film (100), comprises a basic structure (2) provided with a supporting plane (8); an unwinding station (3) provided with an unwinding roller (31) driven and/or controlled in rotation about a respective longitudinal axis by first driving means (32) and arranged to support a reel (101) of the film (100); a pre- stretching station (4) arranged to unwind the film (100) from the reel (101) with a preset unwinding speed and to pre-stretch the film (100) of a preset percentage, the pre-stretching station (4) comprises a couple of pre- stretching rollers (41; 42) driven in rotation about respective longitudinal axes by second driving means (43, 44) and a plurality of return rollers (45, 46; 47) to deviate and wrap the film (100) on the pre- stretching rollers (41, 42) according to a predetermined pre-stretching path; the pre-stretching rollers (41, 42) and return rollers (45, 46, 47) are interchangeable and adjustably positionable to change the pre-stretching path; the testing machine (1) further comprises a wrapping station (5) provided with a testing drum (51) driven and/or controlled in rotation about a respective longitudinal axis by third driving means (52) and arranged to be wrapped at least partially by the film (100) coming out from the pre- stretching station (4); a plurality of guiding rollers (21-24) to lead the film (100) along an unwinding path from the unwinding station (3) to the pre-stretching station (4) and from the latter to the wrapping station (5), the guiding rollers (21-24) being interchangeable and reversibly and adjustably mountable to the supporting plane (8) to change the unwinding path; a plurality of measuring groups (11-16) to perform a plurality of respective measurements at least of dimensional and/or physical parameters of the reel (101) and of the film (100) and reversibly and adjustably mountable to the supporting plane (8) depending on the unwinding path; a plurality of testing groups (17-20) provided with respective means to interact with the film and perform respective tests and measurements on the film (100) in order to determine mechanical and physical properties of the latter.