Modified Atmosphere Packaging Machine Gas Injection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modified atmosphere packaging machines face challenges in ensuring reliable gas flow between the tray and the cover film due to the flap of the tray potentially blocking the gas injection openings, especially with deformable or cellulose-based trays, leading to inconsistent packaging results.
Innovation Solution
The packaging machine incorporates an actuator device that positions the flap of the tray to prevent it from blocking the gas injection opening, ensuring continuous gas flow by either pushing it downwards or preventing it from moving upwards, allowing the gas to pass through even when the sealing tool is in the sealing position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cavity is positioned at a level lower than the outer surface of the lower tool with a surrounding wall and openings for gas injection, then gas can be injected towards the cavity, but a greater separation between the cavity and the upper tool is required, necessitating greater travel of the sealing tool
Solution Approach 1:
The gas injection openings are positioned on the wall surface (lateral dimension) rather than on the bottom surface (vertical dimension) of the cavity. This lateral positioning allows gas to be injected directly into the cavity without requiring the sealing tool to travel a greater vertical distance, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable gas flow and sealing tool travel distance.
2Reliability
If the wall extension is increased to ensure gas passage is not blocked by the tray arrangement, then gas flow is maintained, but the device complexity and separation distance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity wall itself serves the dual function of containing the cavity and providing the gas injection openings. The wall structure is utilized to its full potential by positioning openings on its surface, eliminating the need for additional extensions or complex structures to ensure gas passage reliability.
3Productivity
If the sealing tool is moved closer to the lower tool for sealing, then sealing efficiency is improved, but the gas injection opening may be blocked by the tray flap
Solution Approach 1:
Gas injection is performed before the sealing tool moves to the sealing position. The cavity is pressurized with gas in advance, and the tray flap is positioned to block the opening only after gas injection is complete, ensuring both efficient sealing and continuous gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas injection openings are positioned on the lateral wall of the cavity rather than on the bottom surface. This lateral positioning places the openings outside the vertical path of the sealing tool and tray flap, preventing blockage while allowing the sealing tool to operate efficiently at closer proximity to the lower tool.
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 solution ensures reliable and versatile modified atmosphere packaging by maintaining gas flow and preventing flap interference, accommodating various tray types and materials, thereby ensuring consistent packaging performance.
Implementation Method 1
a gas injection opening (12.3) arranged outside the cavity (12.1), adjacent to a first side (L1) of said cavity (12.1) and communicated with the inner area (102) when the mold (1) is in the operative position
Implementation Method 2
a hot sealing tool which is attached with freedom of movement to the upper tool is moved towards the lower tool for pressing the cover film against the flap of the tray and causing the heat sealing
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is packaging machine with a sealing station that includes a mold with an upper tool and a lower tool facing each other and suitable for cooperating with one another in an operative position of the mold, between which there is delimited an inner area. The lower tool includes a cavity that is configured to receive a tray. A gas injection opening is located adjacent to a first side of the cavity and communicated with the inner area. The upper tool includes a sealing tool and an actuator device facing an actuation region of the lower tool defined between the first side of the cavity and a contact location of the upper and lower tools, and being closer to the lower tool than the sealing tool.