Filter Bag Joining Device with Eccentric Sealing Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joining devices for filter bags have a short sealing time, leading to defective or insufficient seals, particularly at high production speeds, as the sealing heads are in contact with the tubular strip at a single point for a reduced time.
Innovation Solution
A device with two operating units, each comprising a supporting body and a sealing head connected to an eccentric rotary system, along with a carriage that translates in a rectilinear trajectory perpendicular to the feed direction, allowing the sealing heads to remain in contact with the filter material for a sufficient time through a combined cyclical movement, ensuring high-quality joins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sealing heads move along circular trajectories with a single point of contact, then the device complexity is reduced and the operating speed can be increased, but the sealing time is reduced leading to defective or insufficient seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-point contact sealing mechanism to a linear contact sealing mechanism by introducing a rectilinear stretch trajectory. This dimensional change from point contact to line contact increases the sealing time and contact area without compromising the operating speed, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and sealing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic trajectory that combines circular motion with a rectilinear stretch portion. The sealing heads follow a cyclical path that includes a linear segment where they remain in contact with the tubular strip for an extended period. This dynamic trajectory optimization allows maintaining high operating speeds while ensuring sufficient sealing time through controlled motion phases.
2Reliability
If the sealing heads remain in contact with the tubular strip for a longer time, then the sealing quality improves, but the device dimensions would need to be enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic motion control to extend the sealing time within the existing device footprint. By incorporating a rectilinear stretch trajectory in the cyclical path of the sealing heads, the system achieves prolonged contact time without requiring physical enlargement of the device structure. The motion optimization allows the sealing heads to traverse a longer path within the same spatial constraints.
3Productivity
If the sealing heads move faster to increase production speed, then the productivity increases, but the sealing time decreases leading to insufficient seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the motion dynamics by introducing a rectilinear stretch portion to the sealing heads' cyclical trajectory. This dynamic trajectory design ensures that even at high operating speeds, the sealing heads maintain contact with the tubular strip for a sufficient duration during the linear phase, thereby preserving sealing quality while achieving high production rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sealing contact from point-based to line-based through the rectilinear trajectory stretch. This dimensional transformation allows the sealing process to occur over an extended period within each cycle, effectively increasing sealing time without reducing the overall production speed, thus resolving the time-speed trade-off.
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 achieves high-quality seals and increased operational flexibility, maintaining reliability and quality even at high production speeds without enlarging the device's dimensions, ensuring effective contact between the sealing heads and the filter material for extended periods.
Implementation Method 1
Each kinematic unit comprises two axes of rotary movement (of which at least one is motor driven and synchronised with the movement for feeding the tubular strip of filter material), usually arranged side by side with respect to a horizontal plane or a vertical plane, for each supporting body-sealing head unit. On each of the axes of rotary movement is keyed an eccentric rotary system consisting of a circular plate having a protruding shaft positioned outside the geometrical centre of the circular plate to form a crank system.
Implementation Method 2
Each operating unit comprises a supporting body and a sealing head, connected to the supporting body. The sealing heads are effective in sealing (usually, but not necessarily, of the hotmelt type) bottom and/or top ends of filter bags
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Described is a device for joining filter bags (1) comprises two operating units (2, 3) located on opposite sides of a continuous tubular strip (S) of filter material movable along a feed direction (A); each operating unit (2, 3) comprises a supporting body (5), a sealing head (4) connected to the supporting body (5) and two kinematic units (6, 6') equipped with a corresponding eccentric rotary system for moving the supporting body (5) along a first trajectory (T1) and to move the sealing head (4) between a position of contact with the strip (S) and a position away from the strip (S); each operating unit (2, 3) comprises a carriage (10) associated with the sealing head (4) for and slidably connected to the supporting body (5) to translate in both directions along a second trajectory (T2).