Loose Object Carrier for Flexible Tray Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tray packaging machines are inflexible, costly, and inefficient due to their reliance on specialized plate chain conveyors that are limited to specific types of trays and require extensive maintenance, leading to increased waste and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine with a movable, loose object carrier that can be easily adapted for different types of packaging objects, allowing for flexible use across various machines without the need for extensive tool adaptations, and reducing waste by optimizing the arrangement and movement of packaging objects within the sealing station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plate chain conveyor is used to transport trays, then the trays can be conveyed safely without shifting or falling over, but the machine becomes cost-intensive and requires extensive maintenance work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tray transport function from the complex plate chain conveyor system and implements it using simple, separate transport elements (such as individual fingers or bars) that can independently hold and move trays through the sealing station, eliminating the need for a continuous chain mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system is segmented into discrete transport elements rather than a continuous chain, allowing each element to be simplified and replaced individually if needed, reducing overall system complexity and maintenance requirements
2Reliability
If a plate chain conveyor is used, then trays can be transported stably, but the conveyor can only be used with a special packaging machine and cannot be used on different types of machines
Solution Approach 1:
The transport elements are designed as universal, standardized components that can be adapted to work with different packaging machine types and configurations, allowing the same basic transport mechanism to serve multiple machine platforms without requiring machine-specific customization
3Productivity
If a plate chain conveyor is used, then trays can be conveyed into the sealing station, but excessively large distances between individual trays exist, leading to increased cover-film waste material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the spacing and positioning parameters of the transport elements to optimize tray placement, reducing the excessive gaps between trays that occur with plate chain conveyors and thereby minimizing the amount of cover film required for each packaging operation
4Productivity
If frame members are used as tray conveyors with a horizontal return facility, then multiple trays can be supplied to the tray sealer, but accurate positioning of the frame member during the sealing process becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the frame member return facility and implements it through dedicated positioning mechanisms (such as guides, stops, or alignment features) that ensure accurate tray placement at the sealing station, separating the conveyance and positioning functions
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a packaging machine comprising a sealing station, a conveying unit and at least one loose object carrier, which is configured for accommodating a plurality of packaging objects and adapted to be fed to and removed from the sealing station by means of the conveying unit, wherein the loose object carrier comprises an upper part for accommodating the packaging objects, and wherein, for sealing the packaging objects, the object carrier is movable within the sealing station from a preliminary position, to which it can be advanced by means of the conveying unit, to a sealing position, at which it has been moved into contact with a tool upper part of the sealing station, said sealing position being displaced in parallel relative to the preliminary position.