Longitudinal Cutting Device with Feed Unit for Packaging Film

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing longitudinal cutting devices struggle with cutting soft packaging films, as they tend to pile up and distort, leading to unclean cuts due to the scissor cutting effect.

Innovation Solution

A longitudinal cutting device with a feed unit that conveys packaging film directly to the cutting knives, using a frictional coupling between disc-shaped conveying elements to keep the film taut, ensuring a clean and precise cut by preventing material accumulation and adjusting for different film types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional longitudinal cutting devices with cutting blades and counter-pressure rollers are used, then cutting of packaging film is achieved, but the film material accumulates in front of the cutting blades causing unclean cuts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut qualityVSAvoidfilm material accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The feed unit is positioned upstream of the cutting blade and performs preliminary conveying action to transport the packaging film directly to the cutting point before cutting occurs. This preliminary action prevents film accumulation by ensuring continuous, controlled feed of the film material to the cutting blade, eliminating the buildup problem that causes unclean cuts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If shear cut is used to cut packaging film, then cutting action is achieved, but soft film material warps resulting in unclean cut

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecut cleanlinessVSAvoidfilm material stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The feed unit acts as an intermediary between the film supply and the cutting blade. It provides controlled, direct feeding of the film to the cutting point, stabilizing the film material during the cutting process. This intermediary action prevents warping of soft film materials by maintaining proper tension and positioning, ensuring clean cuts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If cutting blades are arranged side by side for multi-lane packaging, then packaging film can be cut along its length, but film material piles up in front of each cutting blade

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-lane cutting capabilityVSAvoidfilm material pile-up
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The feed function is segmented and assigned to individual feed units for each cutting blade position. Each feed unit independently conveys film material to its associated cutting blade, preventing accumulation at multiple cutting points. This segmented approach maintains productivity for multi-lane packaging while eliminating the pile-up problem that occurs with shared feed mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables clean, precise longitudinal cuts through packaging films of varying strengths by maintaining tension on the film, preventing piling and distortion, and allowing for adjustable cutting speed and force to accommodate different materials.

Implementation Method 1

A longitudinal cutting device with a feed unit that conveys packaging film directly to the cutting knives, using a frictional coupling between disc-shaped conveying elements to keep the film taut

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3718715B1Longitudinal cutting with integrated conveyor roller
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3718715B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3718715B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3718715B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a longitudinal cutting device (18) for a packaging film (19), comprising a plurality of cutting blades (20) for cutting the packaging film (19) fed to the cutting blades (20) in a film transport direction (F), wherein the plurality of cutting blades (20) in the film transport direction (F) comprises a left cutting blade (20a), a right cutting blade (20d), and at least one intermediate cutting blade (20b, 20c). The longitudinal cutting device (18) comprises at least one feed unit (22) associated with the intermediate cutting blade (20b, 20c) and designed to transport the packaging film (19), by means of which the packaging film (19) can be conveyed directly at the location of a cutting operation in the film transport direction (F). The invention further relates to a method for cutting a packaging film (19) in the film transport direction (F) by means of a longitudinal cutting device (18).