Friction-Reducing Elements for Bag-Like Package Blank Transport

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing webs for transporting and filling consecutively joined bag-like package blanks face limitations in length, friction issues, and the ability to handle higher filling weights and simultaneous fillings, with previous designs experiencing wrinkles during welding and restricted curvature due to friction problems.

Innovation Solution

The web incorporates friction-reducing elements such as ball bearings, wheels, and sliding surfaces with low coefficients of friction, strategically placed along the web parts to minimize sliding friction and support the package blanks, allowing for longer transport and filling segments with increased filling capacity and reduced wrinkles during welding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the web length is increased to allow longer transport and filling segments, then the filling capacity and productivity are improved, but the friction between the tunnel and web part increases causing wrinkles and making separation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling capacityVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A friction-reducing element is introduced as an intermediary between the tunnel and the web part. This element mediates the contact interface, reducing friction while maintaining the functional relationship between the moving tunnel and the stationary web part, thereby enabling longer web lengths without excessive friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The direct sliding contact between the tunnel and web part is replaced with a rolling contact mechanism through the friction-reducing element. This substitution transforms the mechanical interaction from high-friction sliding to low-friction rolling, allowing the web to be made longer without proportionally increasing friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If the web part curvature radius is decreased to fit compact spaces, then the device footprint is reduced, but the friction and risk of wrinkles during welding increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidfriction and wrinkles
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The friction-reducing element acts as a mediator that protects the tunnel from direct contact with curved web parts. Even when the web part has a small curvature radius, the intermediary element maintains low friction and prevents wrinkles during welding operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the filling weight is increased to improve productivity, then the filling capacity is improved, but the friction between the tunnel and web part increases beyond acceptable limits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling weight capacityVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The friction-reducing element serves as a mediator that decouples the friction force from the filling weight. By introducing this intermediary, the system can handle higher filling weights without the friction between tunnel and web part increasing proportionally, as the friction-reducing element absorbs and reduces the contact friction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces friction, enables longer web lengths, supports higher filling weights, and allows for more simultaneous fillings while preventing wrinkles during the welding process, enhancing the efficiency and capacity of the web for transporting and filling bag-like package blanks.

Implementation Method 1

At least one part of the web on which the package blanks slide is provided with a first friction-reducing element arranged to decrease the sliding friction between the inside of the tunnel and the outside of the web part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The first friction-reducing element is a ball bearing, a wheel or a ball that is journalled for rotation in the web part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP2357139B1Device for transport of bag-like package blanks
Publication Date: 2012.10.24 PRONOVA
  • EP2357139B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2357139B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2357139B1 patent drawingFigure 4~4b

AI summary

Device (11) for the transport of continuous bag-like package blanks (12), which are arranged to be opened, filled, closed and separated along the web, which package blanks are formed with suspension members in the form of upper edge portions each one of which provided with a tunnel (13,14) arranged to slide on a part (16,17) of the device (11) in order for the device, in such a way, to support the package blanks (12) when the same are moved along the device, wherein at least one part (16,17) of the device (11), on which the package blanks (12) slide, is provided with a first friction-reducing element (160,170,360,370) arranged to decrease the sliding friction between the inside of the tunnel (13,14) and the outside of the device part (16,17).