Folding Assembly Suction Device for Packaging Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machine technologies face limitations in air evacuation during heat-sealing of cylindrical rolls, leading to reduced productivity and potential deformations or blockages, especially when high-speed handling is required.
Innovation Solution
A folding assembly with a suction device featuring a channel with a flexible end portion and multiple suction inlets, positioned between the film duct and packs, ensures efficient air evacuation without occlusions, allowing for continuous operation and high productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thin suction tube is inserted between the film and wall to evacuate air, then air evacuation capability is improved, but the risk of film blockage and deformation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device is divided into multiple independent suction inlets (first suction inlet facing the chamber, second suction inlet facing away from the chamber) instead of using a single tube. This segmentation allows air to be evacuated through multiple paths, reducing the risk of blockage while maintaining high evacuation capability for high-speed handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible channel acts as an intermediary element that connects the suction inlets to the chamber while accommodating the presence of the film duct. The flexible nature of the channel allows it to adapt to the film's position without causing blockage, mediating between the suction requirement and the film's presence.
2Productivity
If suction force is increased to evacuate air quickly, then productivity is improved, but film deformation and breakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By providing multiple suction inlets, the total suction force is distributed across multiple entry points rather than concentrating high force through a single tube. This allows effective air evacuation while reducing the localized suction force that could deform or break the film.
Solution Approach 2:
The first suction inlet is specifically positioned to face the chamber for effective air evacuation, while the second suction inlet faces away from the chamber to provide additional evacuation capacity without directly interacting with the film. This local differentiation of suction inlet orientations optimizes air removal while protecting film integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If suction force is reduced to protect film integrity, then manufacturing precision is improved, but air evacuation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple suction inlets work together to provide cumulative air evacuation capacity that equals or exceeds that of a single high-force tube, while each individual inlet operates at lower force levels that protect the film from deformation and breakage.
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 solution effectively prevents air from hindering heat-sealing, reduces the risk of film blockages, and enables high-speed packaging with improved wrapping quality and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a suction device (6), comprising a channel (7) provided with a flexible end portion (7a) protruding inside said chamber (5) and provided with at least one suction inlet for the air contained in said chamber (5)
Implementation Method 2
such element has a heat-sealing head that surmounts the line, while a complementary head operates below such line; by moving at right angles to the direction of advancement of the packs, the head and the complementary head move closer, clamping the flaps of film until they adhere to each other, and then heat-seal them
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A folding assembly (1), particularly for packaging machines, comprising means for folding a film in order to shape it like a duct (2) that is wrapped substantially hermetically around at least one first product (3) and a subsequent second product (4) to be packaged, the first product (3) and the second product (4) being movable sequentially along a processing line and spaced by a gap that forms a chamber (5), with which a suction device (6) for evacuating the air comprised therein is functionally associated. The suction device (6) comprises a channel that is interposed between the duct (2) and at least the second product (4), an end portion of the channel, which is at least partially flexible and protrudes inside the chamber (5), being provided along its surface with at least one suction inlet for the air contained in the chamber (5).