Vertical Flow-Wrapper Reclosure Segments for Waste-Saving Bag Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vertical flow-wrapper systems do not efficiently incorporate re-closure means into bags, leading to material waste and compromised seal quality.
Innovation Solution
A vertical flow-wrapper system that applies re-closure means as individual segments parallel to the longitudinal seal, allowing for easy reclosure of bags without additional machining and minimizing material waste, while maintaining seal integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If re-closure means are applied as continuous strands requiring additional machining, then reclosure functionality is achieved, but material waste increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The re-closure means are applied as individual segments corresponding to each bag rather than as continuous strands. This segmentation eliminates the need for additional machining operations and reduces material waste, as each segment is precisely sized and positioned for its specific bag without requiring trimming or cutting.
Solution Approach 2:
The re-closure segments are pre-cut and pre-positioned before the longitudinal sealing operation. This preliminary action ensures that the segments are already in their final positions and sizes, eliminating the need for post-application machining and reducing material waste from trimming operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If re-closure means are applied before longitudinal sealing, then reclosure functionality is achieved, but seal quality is compromised due to interference with sealing margins
Solution Approach 1:
The re-closure segments are positioned in a different spatial arrangement relative to the longitudinal seal, allowing them to be applied before sealing without interfering with the sealing margins. The segments are placed in recesses or designated areas that do not compromise the integrity or quality of the longitudinal seal.
3Loss of substance
If re-closure means are applied as individual segments, then material waste is reduced and seal quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical flow-wrapper is designed with multi-functional application means that can handle both the longitudinal sealing and re-closure segment application in an integrated manner. This universal application system reduces device complexity by combining multiple functions into a single coordinated mechanism rather than requiring separate systems for each operation.
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 system reduces material waste and enhances seal quality by applying re-closure means as individual segments, ensuring easy reclosure and maintaining consistent seal thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a longitudinal-sealing means, which seals two opposing longitudinal ends of the formed film together to a longitudinal seal
Implementation Method 2
a cross-sealing means and a cutting means which provide cross seals to each package
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical flow-wrapper with a form-fill-tube along which a film is transported in a transport direction and formed into a tube, a longitudinal-sealing means, which seals two opposing longitudinal ends of the formed film together to a longitudinal seal, and a cross-sealing means and a cutting means which provide cross seals to each package and separate the packages from each other and means to apply re-closure means to each package, arranged parallel to the longitudinal seal and as individual segments.