Packaging Device Conveyor Dynamics for Stable Band Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging devices require objects to pass through a crossover portion for band-shaped packaging attachment, leading to unstable container posture during wrapping, which complicates the attachment process.

Innovation Solution

A packaging device with a conveyor moving mechanism that forms an attachment space between the carry-in and carry-out conveyors, allowing the band-shaped packaging material to be attached stably from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the object, using a packaging material pressing mechanism with folding rollers and independent pressing portions to secure the material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a crossover portion is used for conveyor transition, then the object can be transferred between conveyors, but the posture of the object becomes unstable during the transfer process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveyor transitionVSAvoidobject posture stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the conveyor system dynamic by allowing the carry-in and carry-out conveyors to move relative to each other. The conveyors can be positioned in different configurations (overlapping, adjacent, or separated) depending on the operational phase, enabling stable object attachment without requiring the object to pass through an unstable crossover portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention adds spatial dimensionality to the conveyor arrangement by allowing conveyors to be positioned at different locations along the conveyance direction, not just at a fixed crossover point. This enables the attachment space to be formed at multiple possible positions, eliminating the constraint of a single unstable crossover portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the object is attached at the crossover portion, then the packaging material can be applied, but the attachment quality deteriorates due to unstable object posture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging applicationVSAvoidattachment quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention performs preliminary action by forming the attachment space before the object reaches any crossover portion. The band-shaped packaging material is attached to the object in a stable position where the object posture is maintained, ensuring high attachment quality before the object enters the unstable transition zone between conveyors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the attachment process from the unstable crossover portion and relocates it to a separate, stable attachment space. This separation allows the packaging material to be applied under controlled conditions with stable object posture, independent of the conveyor transition dynamics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Area of stationary object

If conveyors are positioned closely for compact design, then device space is reduced, but no attachment space is available for packaging material application

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice footprintVSAvoidattachment space availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses dynamic positioning of the conveyors to resolve the space conflict. The carry-in and carry-out conveyors can be positioned closely when not in use, but during the attachment phase, they are moved to create sufficient attachment space. This dynamic adjustment allows both compact overall design and adequate attachment space availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs periodic action by alternating between compact conveyor positioning and expanded attachment space configuration. The conveyors are moved to create attachment space only when needed for packaging material application, then returned to compact positioning for other operations, achieving both space efficiency and functional capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4071065B1Packaging device and packaging method for packaging material
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 OAK TECK INC
  • EP4071065B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4071065B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP4071065B1 patent drawingFigure 1E

AI summary

A packaging device (1) for packaging material includes: a carry-in conveyor (3) configured to carry in a food container (50) along a conveyance direction; a carry-out conveyor configured to carry out the food container along the conveyance direction; a conveyor moving mechanism (9) configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor; a packaging material pressing mechanism (6) configured to press a band-shaped packaging material against the food container conveyed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor and to attach the band-shaped packaging material to the food container; and a control device (40) configured to cause the conveyor moving mechanism to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to thereby form an attachment space (S) between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor where the packaging material pressing mechanism attaches the band-shaped packaging material (60) to the food container.