Multiple Sealing Bars for Continuous Film Wrapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional film wrapping machines with a single sealing bar require slowing down the conveyor to collapse the tube section, leading to reduced productivity due to the need for increased slack in the tube during the sealing process.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple sealing bars and retractable conveyors that maintain continuous motion, allowing for simultaneous contraction and expansion to maintain product speed and ensure efficient sealing without slowing the conveyor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single sealing bar is used on the film wrapping machine, then the sealing process can be completed, but the conveyor must be slowed down to collapse the tube section, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing function into multiple sealing bars (at least two sealing bars) positioned at different locations along the conveyor. This segmentation allows simultaneous sealing operations at multiple points, eliminating the need to slow down the conveyor for tube collapse, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring reliable sealing of article sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs retractable conveyors that can dynamically adjust their length during operation. The conveyors can extend to allow tube collapse for sealing, then retract to maintain continuous motion and productivity. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between needing tube collapse for sealing and maintaining conveyor speed for productivity.
2Ease of operation
If the conveyor is slowed down to increase slack in the tube for sealing, then the sealing process can be performed, but the overall machine speed and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses retractable conveyors that preliminarily prepare the tube section by controlling its tension and position before the sealing operation. The conveyors can pre-position the tube to facilitate sealing without requiring the main conveyor to slow down, thus maintaining speed while enabling easy sealing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable conveyors dynamically adjust their operational state, extending to provide necessary slack for sealing operations, then retracting to restore full conveyor speed. This dynamic behavior allows the sealing operation to be performed easily without permanently reducing conveyor speed.
3Productivity
If multiple sealing bars are implemented, then productivity increases through continuous motion sealing, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing bars and retractable conveyors into an integrated system where the sealing bars are mounted on the retractable conveyors. This merging allows the sealing function to be performed at multiple points simultaneously while using a unified mechanical structure, increasing productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractable conveyors serve multiple functions: they transport articles, control tube tension, enable tube collapse for sealing, and support the sealing bars themselves. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby increasing productivity while limiting the growth of device complexity.
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
Enhances productivity by enabling continuous motion and faster sealing of film tubes without slowing the conveyor, improving overall machine efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a heat tunnel that shrinks the film around an article
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is directed to multiple sealing bars to seal articles moving on a conveyor (2) inside a sleeve (4) that forms a continuous film tube (5). Retracting conveyors act to collapse the tube between the articles so that the collapsed portion of the tube can be sealed. The synchronization of the sealing bars with the movement of retracting conveyors allows for a continuous motion machine where the products inside the film do not stop.