Packaging Apparatus Movable Dog Flap Folding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging apparatuses for food products with foldable flaps struggle to efficiently fold these flaps downward during the packaging process, leading to inefficiencies and potential product damage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a movable dog mechanism upstream of the engagement between the first and second webs of packaging material, which folds the foldable flap downward as the conveyor moves from upstream to downstream, ensuring precise and controlled folding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a movable die member is used to close the pocket, then packaging is achieved, but the foldable flap cannot be efficiently folded downward
Solution Approach 1:
The closing station is divided into two independent functional components: a movable die member for closing the pocket and a movable dog for folding the flap. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling efficient flap folding without interfering with the pocket closing operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable dog acts as an intermediary element between the conveyor and the foldable flap. It engages with the flap to fold it downward onto the food product before the pocket closing operation, facilitating controlled folding without requiring the main die member to perform this additional function.
2Reliability
If the foldable flap is not folded downward, then packaging speed is maintained, but product damage may occur and packaging integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The movable dog folds the foldable flap downward onto the food product in advance, before the pocket closing operation. This preliminary action ensures the flap is properly positioned and secured, preventing product damage and maintaining packaging integrity without causing delays to the overall packaging process.
3Ease of operation
If a complex folding mechanism is added, then flap folding is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable dog is designed with adjustable parameters including its position along the conveyor, its engagement height with the flap, and its folding force. These parameter adjustments allow the system to achieve effective flap folding with a simple mechanical structure, avoiding the need for complex multi-component mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging apparatus comprising a web transport conveyor (4) transporting a web (6) of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including a forming station (10) for forming at least one pocket in a first web (6) of packaging material and a loading station (12) for placing food product in the pocket, the food product having packaging material comprising a foldable flap (84) extending generally outwardly away from the conveyor (4), wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a closing station (14) located downstream of the loading station (12) for closing the pocket with a second web (16) of packaging material. In this packaging apparatus the second web (16) of packaging material is oriented in the closing station (14) so as to engage with the first web (16) of packaging material and also fold the foldable flap (84) downwardly with respect to the conveyor (4) as the conveyor (4) moves from upstream to downstream.