Multi-feed Packaging Unit for Contamination-Free Product Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional form-fill-seal machines experience significant downtime and reduced production output due to the time-consuming cleaning process required for product changes, especially when handling different products, which leads to contamination risks and increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A packaging system with multiple selectable product feed devices that can be moved relative to a sack attachment device, allowing for seamless product changes without the need for extensive cleaning, thereby reducing downtime and ensuring minimal contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning is performed during product changes, then contamination is avoided, but production output is reduced due to cleaning time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing multiple product feed devices (at least two) that are pre-configured for different products. When a product change is needed, the system switches to a different pre-configured product feed device rather than cleaning the current one. This eliminates cleaning time and maintains production output while ensuring contamination avoidance through dedicated product paths.
2Productivity
If multiple separate machines are used for different products, then productivity is maintained, but financial outlay and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple product feed devices into a single integrated packaging machine. The machine includes at least two product feed devices with separate product paths that converge at a common filling station and sack attachment device. This allows the system to handle multiple products with one machine, maintaining productivity while reducing the number of machines needed and associated space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging machine is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating multiple selectable product feed devices that can be switched between. The single machine can fill different bulk materials (powders, granules, pellets) by selecting the appropriate product feed device, making it a universal solution that replaces multiple specialized machines.
3Device complexity
If a single machine handles multiple products, then space and cost are reduced, but contamination risk increases during product changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by providing separate, dedicated product paths for each product feed device. Each product feed device has its own independent pathway from the product source to the filling spout, preventing cross-contamination. The segmentation is further enhanced by providing separate suction sources and control systems for each product path, allowing independent operation and switching without contamination risk.
Data Source
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AI summary
Packing unit with a packing machine for filling bulk materials in open sacks with a sack suspension device, for suspending the open sacks at a filling nozzle of a product supply device and filling the same with at least one bulk material. The sack suspension device is provided with at least two selectable product supply devices. The at least two product supply devices and the sack suspension device are movable relative to each other in order to select a product supply device and to suspend a sack by means of the sack suspension device at the filling nozzle of the selected product supply device and to fill bulk material in the open sack by means of the corresponding filling nozzle.