Detachable Packaging Feed Unit With Air Cushion Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing blister packaging machines for pharmaceutical products require significant time and effort to change the product feed components due to differences in product geometry and contamination concerns, leading to operational downtime.
Innovation Solution
A detachable feed unit with an air cushion system and centering elements allows for easy positioning and precise alignment on the packaging machine, enabling quick exchange of product feed assemblies without the need for on-machine adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the product feed components are directly connected to the packaging machine, then the machine structure is stable and reliable, but the time required to replace the product feed components increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the packaging machine into modular components, specifically separating the product feed unit (with storage container, filling plate, and filling roller) from the main machine body. This feed unit can be detached and replaced as a complete module, allowing rapid product changes without disassembling individual components. The segmentation enables the feed unit to be prepared externally and swapped quickly, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and change speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing the feed unit to be pre-assembled and prepared outside the packaging machine. The detachable connection design enables the feed unit to be configured, tested, and readied in advance, then quickly installed into the machine. This eliminates the need for on-machine assembly and adjustment during product changes, significantly reducing downtime while maintaining reliable connections.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the product feed components are fixed in position, then the machine operation is stable, but the ease of replacing and cleaning the components decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed unit is segmented as a detachable module with standardized connection interfaces. This allows the unit to be firmly positioned during operation for stability, yet easily removed as a complete unit for replacement or cleaning. The modular design maintains positional stability during packaging while enabling straightforward removal and reinstallation.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable feed unit design provides multi-functionality: it serves as a stable, fixed component during machine operation, then becomes easily removable for replacement, cleaning, or reconfiguration. The universal detachable connection system allows the same interface to handle both stable operation and easy maintenance requirements, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the product feed components remain in the machine during product changes, then the machine structure is maintained, but the risk of contamination and residual product increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the product feed unit from the main machine structure, allowing it to be completely removed and taken out of the packaging machine. This enables the feed unit to be replaced with a clean, pre-prepared unit that has never contacted the previous product, eliminating contamination risks and ensuring complete product separation. The machine structure integrity is maintained through the standardized reinstallation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed unit can be prepared externally in advance, ensuring it is clean and free from previous product contamination before installation. This preliminary preparation and complete removal process guarantees that no residual product remains in the feed path, eliminating cross-contamination risks while maintaining machine structure through proper reinstallation procedures.
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
This design significantly reduces the time required for product changes by allowing preassembled feed units to be replaced outside the machine, minimizing downtime and ensuring cleanliness during transitions.
Implementation Method 1
there is a table top (6) on which the feed unit (4) can be arranged, and the feed unit (4) has a base plate (5) which has at least one air outlet opening (8), by means of which between the base plate (5) and the tabletop (6) an air cushion can be generated
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine has at least two modules (1,2,3) for feeding the products into a package. The modules are combined into a separate feed unit (4) which is detachably connected to the packaging machine. The feed unit is arranged on a tabletop (6). The feed unit has a base plate (5) with at least one air outlet opening which allows an air cushion to be formed between the base plate and the tabletop.