Packaging Sheet Clamping Mechanism for Wrinkle Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging systems face challenges with materials that exhibit elastic return, leading to relative movements and damage during the packaging process, compromising the quality of packaging and causing wrinkles in thin wrapping sheets.
Innovation Solution
A device with grip means and actuators that clamp the product and packaging sheet together, ensuring stable juxtaposition and preventing movement, damage, and wrinkle formation by transferring them through a folding hopper in a controlled manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If elastic materials are used for the packaging sheet, then the sheet can be easily formed and folded, but the sheet exhibits elastic return causing relative movements and complicating subsequent packaging operations
Solution Approach 1:
The grip means are activated before the product enters the hopper to clamp the sheet to the product, preventing elastic return and relative movements during subsequent packaging operations. This preliminary clamping action ensures stable sheet positioning while allowing the sheet to be easily formed during the packaging process.
2Loss of substance
If the packaging sheet is made very thin to reduce material usage and cost, then material efficiency improves, but the sheet becomes more susceptible to damage and wrinkle formation during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The grip means clamp the thin sheet to the product before it enters the hopper, providing mechanical support and preventing damage or wrinkle formation during handling. This preliminary securing action allows the use of very thin sheets while maintaining their structural integrity throughout the packaging process.
3Device complexity
If the sheet is allowed to move freely during the packaging process, then the packaging operations can be simpler, but relative movements between product and sheet impede subsequent packaging operations
Solution Approach 1:
The grip means are activated in advance to clamp the sheet to the product, establishing stable relative positioning before subsequent packaging operations. This preliminary action simplifies later operations by eliminating the need to correct sheet positioning issues, thereby improving overall packaging efficiency.
4Reliability
If the sheet is tightly clamped to the product to prevent movement, then sheet positioning stability improves, but the clamping force may damage the sheet or product
Solution Approach 1:
The grip means apply localized clamping force at specific points on the sheet and product, rather than uniform pressure across the entire surface. This localized approach provides sufficient stabilization to prevent movement while avoiding excessive force that could damage the sheet or product. The grip means are positioned to clamp the sheet at critical locations without compromising its integrity.
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
The device ensures stable sheet placement on the product, preventing movement and damage, maintaining ideal positioning for subsequent packaging operations, enhancing packaging quality and speed while being cost-effective and safe to implement.
Implementation Method 1
grip means which are configured to clamp said product and said sheet which is partially juxtaposed against a face thereof
Implementation Method 2
said grip means being functionally associated with respective actuators for transferring the product and the sheet clamped together from a first position, upstream of said hopper, to a second position, downstream of said hopper
Implementation Method 3
a folding hopper for folding at least one said sheet onto at least one corresponding product
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1) for transferring a product (P) and partially covering it with a packaging sheet (A), of the type arranged so as to operate on a conveyance line for products (P) and comprising a assembly for supplying packaging sheets (A) and a folding hopper (2) for folding at least one sheet (A) onto at least one corresponding product (P). The device (1) comprises grip means (3) which are configured to clamp the product (P) and the sheet (A) which is partially juxtaposed against a face thereof. The grip means (3) are functionally associated with respective actuators for transferring the product (P) and the sheet (A) clamped together from a first position, upstream of the hopper (2), to a second position, downstream of the hopper (2). The sheet (A), in the second position, is partially juxtaposed against at least two faces (P1, P2, P3) of the product (P).