Hopper Shoot Alignment in Rotary Filling Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary-type filling and packaging machines face challenges in maintaining the alignment of printed web positions with side-seal positions due to load-induced deviations, leading to potential sanitary issues from complex structures and difficult cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A filling and packaging machine design that includes a biasing member and actuator to adjust the hopper shoot's position relative to the web-conveying direction, allowing for precise alignment without external deformable parts, enhancing sanitation and washability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a deformable portion is attached to the outer surface of the filling hopper shoot to adjust positional deviation, then the alignment accuracy between web printing position and side-seal position is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and sanitation deteriorates due to difficult cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the deformable portion from the outer surface of the filling hopper shoot and relocates it to the inner surface only. This extraction of the problematic external component eliminates the cleaning difficulty while preserving the positional adjustment function, directly resolving the contradiction between alignment accuracy and sanitation maintainability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the external surface deformable to achieve alignment adjustment, the patent inverts the approach by making the internal surface deformable. This inversion allows the adjustment function to be achieved without compromising the external cleanliness and ease of maintenance
2Manufacturing precision
If a deformable portion is attached to the outer surface of the filling hopper shoot to adjust positional deviation, then the alignment accuracy between web printing position and side-seal position is improved, but the ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the deformable portion from the external surface and relocates it to the internal surface of the filling hopper shoot. This extraction eliminates the cleaning obstruction caused by external deformable structures, directly improving ease of cleaning while maintaining alignment functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable portion on the internal surface can be easily accessed and adjusted during routine maintenance without disassembling external components. The simple internal structure allows for self-service cleaning and adjustment operations, improving ease of 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 machine effectively compensates for positional deviations in the web without compromising sanitation, ensuring accurate alignment and improved cleanliness by using a torsion spring or actuator to rotate the hopper shoot, maintaining standard web tension and position accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
A filling and packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the hopper shoot (30) is rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the support member (32B), and a torsion spring (40C) is wound around the pivot shaft (40B)
Implementation Method 2
the filling and packaging machine may further comprise an actuator for rotating the hopper shoot toward the direction crossing the web-conveying direction of the web
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A filling and packaging machine comprises a web-feeding means for feeding out a beltlike web having marks at predetermined intervals; a web-folding means for folding the fed-out web in half with an opening facing upward; a plurality of side-sealing means (20) provided around the circumference of a rotary body (140) for sealing the web at predetermined intervals in the web-conveying direction to form bags by sandwiching the web; a hopper shoot (30) attached to a support member (32B) and having a horizontally elongated section in a lower area; a lift means for lifting and lowering the support member; a mark detector for detecting the marks; and a controller for controlling the web-feeding means on the basis of a signal from the mark detector. The hopper shoot (30) is pivotally attached to the support member (23B). A tilt angle of the horizontally elongated section (30A) of the hopper shoot is varied in response to a variation in the feed-out quantity of the web from the web-feeding means.