Packaging Machine Folding Claws Integrated Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines for portioned liquid or pasty products face challenges in achieving high cycle rates and compactness while ensuring entirely air-free packaging, as they require complex constructions and struggle to completely remove residual air.
Innovation Solution
The packaging machine incorporates a design where the upward-projecting lateral longitudinal peripheries of the wrapper are folded inward and connected simultaneously within the folding claws, and the transverse peripheries are folded and connected in a single operating cycle, eliminating the need for separate connecting stations and allowing for compactness and efficient air removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate connecting stations are used for folding and connecting wrapper peripheries, then the packaging process is more thorough, but the device complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the folding and connecting operations into a single integrated station. The first folding and connecting station performs both folding of lateral longitudinal peripheries and connecting them simultaneously. The second folding and connecting station does the same for transverse peripheries. This merging eliminates the need for separate folding and connecting stations, reducing device complexity while maintaining packaging completeness through the integrated dual-function stations.
2Reliability
If multiple separate stations are used for folding and connecting operations, then each operation can be performed thoroughly, but the cycle rate decreases due to multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges folding and connecting operations into simultaneous actions at integrated stations. At the first folding and connecting station, lateral longitudinal peripheries are folded and connected in one operation. At the second folding and connecting station, transverse peripheries are folded and connected simultaneously. This eliminates sequential multi-step operations, improving cycle rate while maintaining quality through the integrated dual-function design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous packaging operation by integrating folding and connecting actions that occur simultaneously without interruption. The wrapper blank is continuously fed through the system, and at each integrated station, folding and connecting happen in continuous motion rather than discrete steps, maintaining production flow and improving overall cycle rate.
3Device complexity
If traditional folding ducts are used, then the structure is simple, but the ability to remove residual air is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packaging process into distinct functional zones: a folding duct for initial wrapper formation, then transition to integrated folding and connecting stations that operate with the wrapper still in folding claws. This segmentation allows the folding duct to remain simple while the subsequent stations provide enhanced air removal capability through the simultaneous folding and connecting action that compresses and seals the packaging more effectively, reducing residual air without complicating the folding duct structure itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for packaging products, wherein packaging material web is transported in direction of an upwardly open pair of folding claws, is cut to length while forming a planar blank of the wrapper, and the blank is positioned above the folding claws, wherein the product is metered, the product portion is pre-shaped, and the blank by placing thereon the pre-shaped product portion is folded into the claws while forming the upwardly open wrapper. Thereafter, the upward-projecting lateral longitudinal peripheries of the wrapper are folded inward onto the product portion, whereupon the transverse peripheries of the wrapper which extend perpendicular thereto are folded inward onto the product portion. The lateral longitudinal peripheries and transverse peripheries of the wrapper are folded inward onto the product portion and are simultaneously connected to one another, while the wrapper provided with the product portion is still situated in the pair of folding claws.