Packaging Seal Tool Pneumatic Pressure Chamber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing tools for packaging machines lack precise and reproducible adjustability of sealing pressure, leading to inconsistent and potentially weak seals.

Innovation Solution

A sealing tool with a pressure chamber in the upper part, where the lower part is lifted to press against a membrane, generating sealing pressure that is exclusively based on the pressure chamber, allowing for even distribution and adjustable sealing force, independent of the relative position of tool parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional sealing tools with spring elements and mechanical linkages are used, then the sealing force can be adjusted, but the adjustment is complex and the sealing pressure is not evenly distributed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing pressure distributionVSAvoidadjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pneumatic pressure through a pressure chamber to generate sealing force. The pressure chamber receives pressure medium (gas or liquid) that acts on a sealing element, replacing complex mechanical spring and linkage systems. This pneumatic approach enables precise control of sealing pressure through pressure regulation while ensuring even distribution across the sealing surface, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of pressure control from mechanical force adjustment to pneumatic pressure regulation. By controlling the pressure medium in the pressure chamber, the sealing force can be precisely and easily adjusted without complex mechanical adjustments. This parameter change simplifies the adjustment mechanism while improving sealing pressure distribution uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mechanical spring elements are used to apply sealing pressure, then the sealing force can be generated, but the pressure varies along the circumference and creates weak points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseal consistencyVSAvoidsealing pressure uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical spring elements with a pneumatic pressure chamber system. The pressure medium distributed throughout the chamber ensures uniform sealing pressure across the entire sealing circumference, eliminating weak points caused by non-uniform mechanical pressure distribution. This improves both seal consistency and pressure uniformity simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates an equipotential pressure distribution through the pressure chamber, where the pressure medium ensures equal pressure at all points of the sealing surface. This eliminates the pressure variations that occur with mechanical springs, ensuring consistent sealing reliability and uniformity throughout the circumference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the sealing force is adjusted individually for different sealing processes, then adaptability is achieved, but the adjustment requires considerable effort and time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing force adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses pneumatic pressure control to enable rapid adjustment of sealing force for different sealing processes. Instead of time-consuming mechanical adjustments, the pressure medium in the pressure chamber can be quickly regulated to achieve the required sealing force, maintaining high adaptability while significantly reducing adjustment time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic pressure control system where the sealing force can be rapidly changed by adjusting the pressure medium supply to the pressure chamber. This dynamic control enables quick adaptation to different sealing requirements without the time loss associated with mechanical reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables precise, reproducible, and evenly distributed sealing pressure, facilitating consistent and strong seals without varying along the circumference.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure chamber (41) which can be pressurized with pressure medium, to move the inner part (35) of the upper part (17) of the sealing tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure Increase: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the lower inner part (39) is movable relative to the upper inner part (37) and on which the sealing edge (55) is provided. A pressure chamber (41), which can be pressurized with pressure medium, is formed in the upper inner part (37) and serves to move the lower inner part (39)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure Transmission: Pascal's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3608235B1Seal tool for a packaging machine
Publication Date: 2022.02.02 MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3608235B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3608235B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3608235B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The sealing tool (5) for closing a package by sealingly joining a first package part (9) to a second package part (21) comprises a sealing tool upper part (17) with an outer part (29) and an inner part (35) arranged in the outer part (29), wherein the outer part (29) is movable in a vertical direction relative to the inner part (35), and a sealing tool lower part (19) arranged below the sealing tool upper part (17) with a sealing surface (27). A lifting drive (59) moves the sealing tool lower part (19) along a vertical direction from a receiving position in which the first and the second package parts (9, 21) can be inserted between the sealing tool lower part (19) and the sealing tool upper part (17), to a sealing position for joining the first to the second package part (9, 21).The inner part (35) of the upper sealing tool part (17) comprises an upper inner part (37) and a lower inner part (39) movable in a vertical direction relative to the upper inner part (37), wherein a sealing edge (55) is provided on the lower inner part (39) for sealing interaction with the sealing surface (27) of the lower sealing tool part (19). A pressure chamber (41) is formed in the upper inner part (37), bounded downwards by a membrane (43), wherein the lower inner part (39) is pressed against the membrane (43) in the sealing position, thus applying a sealing pressure.