Long-Pasta Bag Zip Application With Oscillating Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines face challenges in continuously applying a zip closure strip on long pasta bags without interrupting the production process, leading to intermittent stops and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A zip group with oscillating frames that compensate for the blocking of the plastic film during zip closure strip application, ensuring continuous motion and quality application by using first and second oscillating frames to manage excess film and maintain constant film motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the plastic film is blocked to apply the zip closure strip, then the quality of zip closure application is improved, but the production process stops intermittently reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the first and second drive rollers movable rather than fixed. The first drive roller can move longitudinally to advance the plastic film during zip closure application, while the second drive roller compensates by moving in the opposite direction to maintain continuous film feed to the sealing station. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to accommodate the blocking period without interrupting overall production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the discarding and recovering principle by allowing the first drive roller to temporarily hold or 'discard' the plastic film advancement during the zip closure application phase, then recovering this advancement function when the zip closure is applied. The second drive roller simultaneously compensates to ensure continuous film movement, effectively recovering the lost time in the overall production cycle.
2Manufacturing precision
If the plastic film is blocked for zip closure application, then the zip closure can be properly applied, but the plastic film may become slack or excessive affecting quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by having the second drive roller compensate for the film advancement blocked by the first drive roller. When the first drive roller stops to apply the zip closure, the second drive roller moves in the opposite direction (compensating movement) to maintain the balance of film tension and prevent slack or excessive film accumulation, thus maintaining stable film composition throughout the process.
3Device complexity
If a single zip closure strip is applied to the plastic film, then the device complexity is reduced, but the closure reliability is insufficient as clips may be released
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements the merging principle by combining the zip closure strip application with the existing continuous film forming and sealing process. The zip closure strip is applied inline during the continuous production process rather than as a separate post-processing step, merging two functions (film forming and closure application) into one integrated system. This maintains device simplicity while ensuring reliable closure through proper positioning and sealing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A zip group (2), for long pasta packaging machine (1), able to apply a zip closure strip (3) on a plastic film (4) suitable for making bags to accommodate doses of long pasta, is described. The zip group (2) provides a zip application device (40) comprising a reel (50) of a zip closure tape (3), a rotor (7) able to feed a defined length of zip closure strip (3) for application on the plastic film (4), a sealing bar (8) for applying the zip closure strip (3) on the plastic film (4), feeding and cutting means (5) of the zip closure tape (3) to define the zip closure strip (3) for the rotor (7), and suction means (6) of the zip closure strip (3) on the rotor (7). The zip group (2) also includes a first oscillating frame (9) upstream of the rotor (7), a second oscillating frame (10) downstream of the rotor (7), a guide frame (30) above the second oscillating frame (10), and blocking and actuating means (23) of the plastic film (4) downstream of the rotor (7) and upstream of the second oscillating frame (10).