Foil Fold Arranging Device for Non-Circular Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container sleeving systems using flattened tubular shrink foil material face issues with creating additional folds to accommodate containers of non-circular shapes, leading to wrinkles, tension, and handling problems due to varying travel distances and complex apparatus designs.
Innovation Solution
A device and system that allows additional folds to be created in the flattened tubular shrink foil material without opening it, using guiding elements with constant circumference and pressure rollers to form folds at selectable positions, ensuring the foil material remains flattened and reducing wrinkles and tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional folds are created by opening and refolding the foil material using complex side guides, then the foil material can accommodate non-circular container shapes, but wrinkles and artefacts occur due to varying travel distances and the foil material is subjected to tension
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the fold creation process by using multiple independently adjustable rollers (first roller, second roller, third roller) that can create folds at different positions and orientations. This segmentation allows the foil material to be folded into complex shapes without requiring the entire foil to be opened and refolded, thereby preventing wrinkles and tension.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary folding actions on the flattened tubular foil material before it is opened by the spreading element. By pre-creating the additional folds in the flattened state, the foil material is already configured to match the target container shape, eliminating the need for complex refolding operations that cause wrinkles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional folds are created using rotatable side guides with varying circumferences, then fold positions can be adjusted, but the varying travel distance causes wrinkles and the apparatus becomes complex and prone to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs dynamically adjustable rollers that can be independently positioned and oriented. The first, second, and third rollers can be adjusted to different positions and angles, allowing flexible fold placement without requiring complex rotatable guides with varying circumferences. This dynamic adjustment capability achieves adaptability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes geometric parameters (roller positions, orientations, and spacing) to achieve different fold configurations. By adjusting the positions of the first, second, and third rollers, the same simple apparatus structure can create various fold patterns without requiring complex mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the foil material is opened into an opened state and then flattened again to create additional folds, then the foil can be reshaped, but this process creates tension and handling problems downstream
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs the reshaping action while the foil material is still in its flattened state, before the opening operation. By creating additional folds in the flattened configuration, the foil material maintains its flat, handleable state throughout the fold creation process, avoiding the tension and handling problems that would result from opening and refolding.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of opening the foil material and then creating folds in the opened state, the device inverts the sequence by creating folds in the flattened state first. This inverted approach maintains the foil material in a stable, flat configuration during fold creation, eliminating the harmful effects of repeated opening and flattening.
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 the creation of sleeves with arbitrarily-shaped rectangular cross-sections, improving orientation accuracy and reducing wrinkles and tension, while simplifying the apparatus and enhancing handling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
pressure rollers to press on both sides against the flattened tubular shrink foil material at the locations of the one or more additional folds
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device (22) for arranging folds (3, 3') in a strip of flattened tubular shrink foil material (13) in a container sleeving system (10) for applying tubular shrink foil material around containers (27). The device comprises a guiding element (22) comprising: • - an upstream guiding element part (41) formed by a first flat plate extending in a first plane; • - a downstream guiding element part (42) formed by a second flat plate part extending in a second plane rotated with respect to the first plane; • - an intermediate guiding element part (43) connected to or integrally formed with the upstream and downstream guiding element parts and shaped so as to smoothly guide the flattened tubular shrink foil material moving over the first flat plate towards the second flat plate; • - pressure rollers (90, 107; 91, 108) arranged configured to press at least one additional fold into the tubular shrink foil material.