Packaging Cutter with Dynamic Blade Angle Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In conventional packaging apparatus, a dull cutting blade can make it difficult to cut the film, leading to inefficiencies in packaging processes.

Innovation Solution

The packaging apparatus incorporates a moving mechanism that adjusts the cutting blade's position so that the angle formed with the film downstream is smaller than the angle formed with the film upstream, allowing the blade to deeply stick into the film and cut it cleanly even when dull.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cutting blade is used continuously, then productivity is improved, but the blade edge becomes dull and cutting ability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous packaging operationVSAvoidcutting ability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the cutting blade movable rather than fixed. The blade can be moved closer to the conveyer belts to increase the biting angle and improve cutting performance when dull, or moved away to prevent contact with the film during non-cutting operations. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain reliable cutting ability throughout extended production cycles without requiring frequent blade replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the cutting blade is moved closer to the belts to improve cutting depth, then cutting ability is improved, but the risk of blade damage or film entanglement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting abilityVSAvoidblade damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable blade mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of the blade position relative to the conveyer belts. The blade can be positioned close to the belts during cutting operations to achieve deep penetration and effective cutting even when dull, then moved away during film conveyance to prevent entanglement and reduce damage risk. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between needing close proximity for cutting effectiveness and needing distance to prevent harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by moving the blade into the cutting position only when needed for cutting operations. Before cutting, the blade is positioned away from the belts and film. Immediately before cutting occurs, the blade moves to the cutting position, and immediately after cutting, it moves away again. This preliminary and temporary positioning minimizes the time the blade is in a vulnerable position, reducing the risk of damage while maintaining cutting effectiveness when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the blade angle with downstream film is made smaller to improve cutting effectiveness, then cutting ability is improved, but the blade may pull upstream film downstream

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting effectivenessVSAvoidfilm position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The movable blade allows dynamic control of the cutting geometry. By adjusting the blade position and angle dynamically during the cutting process, the system can achieve a small angle with the downstream film for effective cutting while the conveyer belts simultaneously hold the upstream film in place. The belts act as a counterbalancing force, preventing upstream film from being pulled downstream even when the blade creates a favorable angle for cutting penetration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4566777A1Packaging apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • EP4566777A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4566777A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4566777A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Providing a packaging apparatus in which a film for packaging is easily cut even when the blade edge of a cutting blade that cuts the film is dull. A packaging apparatus includes a conveyer (300) that sandwiches between upper and lower belts a film F paid out from a film roll and conveys the film to a packaging position, a cutter (200), and a moving mechanism. The cutter has a cutting blade (210) that cuts the film, and the cutter is disposed upstream of the position where the film is sandwiched between the upper and lower belts in a conveyance direction (D) in which the conveyer conveys the film. The moving mechanism moves the cutting blade between a standby position and a cutting completion position (P2) that is positioned downstream of the standby position in the conveyance direction (D) and is a position at which the cutting blade goes through the film and is closer to the belts than it is in the standby position. The moving mechanism moves the cutting blade so that, in the cutting completion position, an angle A formed by the cutting blade and the film that is downstream of the cutting blade is smaller than an angle B formed by the cutting blade and the film that is upstream of the cutting blade.