Filter Bag Dosing Shutter Mechanism for Consistent Product Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for producing filter bags with infusion or extraction products face challenges in ensuring consistent filling of a predetermined dose and reducing variability in product weight across different bags.
Innovation Solution
A feeding and dosing device comprising a containment space with a shutter mechanism and a rotary member, allowing precise control over the passage of product into a cylindrical feeding chamber, which is connected to a continuous strip forming the filter bag, ensuring a consistent dose is introduced into each bag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a continuous strip of filter paper is wrapped to form a tube with product falling by gravity, then the machine structure is simple, but the filling precision and dose consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the continuous product flow into discrete portions using a dosing chamber and shutter mechanism. The shutter divides the continuous gravity-fed product stream into individual doses for each filter bag, enabling precise portioning while maintaining the simple gravity-based feeding structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The product is pre-collected in a dosing chamber before being released into the filter bag. This preliminary accumulation in a controlled chamber allows for precise dose preparation and consistent portioning, improving filling precision before the actual bagging operation.
2Ease of operation
If product is introduced by gravity into filter bags, then the dosing process is simple, but the variability in product weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter mechanism dynamically controls the product flow by opening and closing at precise moments. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain simple gravity-based dosing while achieving consistent product weight through timed release and controlled flow interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the shutter control mechanism that responds to the positioning and movement of filter bags. The shutter timing and operation are synchronized with bag progression, creating a feedback loop that ensures consistent dosing while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Manufacturing precision
If a shutter mechanism with rotary member is added to control product passage, then dosing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter mechanism and rotary member are merged into a single integrated dosing unit that combines multiple functions. The rotary shutter serves both as a flow controller and a dosing timer, merging flow regulation and portioning functions into one component to minimize overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shutter mechanism performs multiple functions: it controls product flow, times the dosing operation, and synchronizes with bag movement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, achieving high dosing accuracy without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 device ensures precise and accurate dosing of infusion or extraction products into filter bags, reducing variability in product quantity and enhancing productivity by controlling the shutter's movement and the rotary member's rotation to manage the product flow effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous strip of filter paper is wrapped to form a tube, into which the product is made to fall by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a device for feeding and dosing infusion or extraction product of a machine (100) for making filter bags (S) containing the infusion or extraction product comprising a space (2) for containing infusion or extraction product defined by an outer lateral wall (3) and by an inner lateral wall (4) comprising openings (7) for the passage of the product; a feeding chamber (6) made inside the inner lateral wall (4), communicating through the openings (7) with the containment space (2) and equipped with an outlet (8) leading outside the containment space (2); a shutter (9), which is movable inside the feeding chamber (6) at least between a closed lower end position (P1), wherein it occludes the openings (7), and an open upper end position (P2), wherein it allows the passage of the product from the containment space (2) to the feeding chamber (6) through the openings (7) towards the outlet (8) to fill the filter bags (S) being formed.