Gable Top Package Sealing Apparatus with Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing mechanisms for gable top packages fail to effectively seal due to irregularities in package positioning and variations in packaging material specifications, leading to bulging and premature leakage of food products.
Innovation Solution
A sealing apparatus with oppositely disposed sealing jaws, a wedge for forming gable panels, a key with lugs to correct skewing, and a rubber dolly to form and seal the fin, ensuring effective sealing despite positional and material variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing sealing mechanisms are used for gable top packages, then the sealing process can be performed, but effective sealing fails due to irregularities in package positioning and variations in packaging material specifications, leading to bulging and premature leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The lugs on the key perform preliminary action by correcting skewing of the package before the sealing operation. The lugs engage with the package edges and adjust the positioning, ensuring the package is properly aligned before the sealing jaws apply sealing force. This preliminary correction prevents sealing failures that would occur with skewed or irregularly positioned packages.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism employs parameter changes by allowing the sealing jaws and associated components to move and adjust during operation. The arms pivot to move sealing jaws through an arc, and the arm support moves linearly to alter the arc of pivoting, adapting to variations in package positioning and material specifications while maintaining effective sealing pressure.
2Force
If rigid sealing jaws are used, then sealing force can be applied, but positioning irregularities cause ineffective sealing and package bulging
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from rigid to dynamic by using pivotally mounted arms that can rotate and adjust their position. The sealing jaws move through an arc as the arms pivot, and the arm support moves linearly to alter this arc dynamically. This allows the sealing force to be applied effectively while accommodating positioning irregularities and material variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm support acts as an intermediary between the fixed mounting and the movable sealing jaws. It translates linear motion into arc motion, mediating the relationship between the sealing force application and the package positioning, thereby allowing effective sealing despite positioning variations.
3Reliability
If fixed arc sealing jaws are used, then sealing can be performed, but variation in packaging material specifications leads to premature leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system employs dynamic adjustment where the arm support moves linearly toward and away from the package as the arms pivot. This dynamic motion alters the arc of the pivoting sealing jaws in real-time, allowing the sealing force to be maintained effectively despite variations in packaging material specifications such as sleeve width and creasing tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism provides inherent feedback through its kinematic design - as the arms pivot and the arm support moves, the actual position and orientation of the sealing jaws automatically adjusts based on the package's actual positioning and dimensions, creating a self-correcting sealing action that maintains seal integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for sealing the top of a package for a food product is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pair of oppositely disposed first and second sealing jaws configured for reversibly engaging each other over the top of the package, at least one wedge on the first sealing jaw configured for contacting a first top portion of the package to form a first gable panel, a key on the second sealing jaw configured for contacting a second top portion of the package to form a second gable panel, at least one lug on the key configured for reducing skewing of the package prior to sealing, and a rubber dolly on either the first or the second sealing jaw, the rubber dolly and the opposing sealing jaw being configured to form and seal a fin between the rubber dolly and the opposing sealing jaw thereby sealing the top of the package. A system for forming, filling, and sealing a package containing a food product comprising the apparatus is also disclosed.