Packer Machine Dual Feeding System for Snus Pouches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packer machines for producing snus pouches with loose products and additional objects face challenges in achieving high productivity and quality while ensuring accurate placement and minimal mechanical stress on the objects during the packaging process.
Innovation Solution
The packer machine employs a dual feeding system with rotating drums and compressed air jets to feed loose material and objects into a tubular wrap, allowing for precise placement and high-speed production with minimal interference, using a conveyor belt and sealing units to form and seal the pouches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If compressed air is used to shoot loose product portions into the tubular wrap, then feeding speed and productivity are improved, but control precision and placement accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A rotating feeding drum is introduced as an intermediary device between the compressed air system and the tubular wrap. The drum receives loose product portions shot by compressed air and gradually releases them one by one at controlled positions, thereby maintaining high feeding speed while improving placement accuracy. The drum acts as a buffer that decouples the high-speed air injection from the precise placement requirement.
2Manufacturing precision
If objects are fed into the tubular wrap using mechanical means, then placement precision is improved, but mechanical stress on objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
Compressed air is used to feed objects into the tubular wrap instead of mechanical pushing or grabbing mechanisms. The pneumatic system gently propels objects along a defined path and releases them at the target location, achieving precise placement without applying damaging mechanical stress to the objects.
3Productivity
If a complex dual feeding system is implemented, then productivity and quality are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding drum serves a dual function: it both receives loose product portions shot by compressed air and releases them one by one at controlled positions. By combining the receiving and releasing functions in a single rotating drum mechanism, the system achieves high productivity and precise placement without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The same compressed air system is used for both feeding loose product portions and feeding objects into the tubular wrap. The pneumatic feeding mechanism is universally applied to different types of contents, reducing the need for separate complex feeding systems and thereby controlling overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If high-speed feeding is implemented, then productivity is improved, but control and monitoring become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating feeding drum provides inherent feedback control through its rotational position. By synchronizing the drum rotation with the wrapping process and using position-synchronized release of product portions, the system maintains precise control at high speeds. The drum's mechanical positioning serves as a feedback mechanism that ensures accurate timing and placement despite high feeding rates.
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 configuration enables high hourly throughputs with maintained quality standards, reduces mechanical stress on objects, and allows for compact and cost-effective machine design with easy operator access.
Implementation Method 1
a first compressed air feeding device (11) arranged to successively feed the portions (2) of loose product into the tubular wrap; a second compressed air feeding device (11) arranged to successively feed the objects (3) into the tubular wrap
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
A packer machine (6) and wrapping method for the production of pouches (1), each containing a portion (2) of a loose product and an object (3). A conveyor device (7) configured to advance one wrapping material band (8) along a packing path (P); a wrapping station (S1) arranged along the packing path (P) and where the wrapping material band (8) is wrapped to form a tubular wrap around a wrapping duct (14); a first feeding device (11) configured to feed the portions (2) into the wrapping duct (14) so that each portion (2) is separate from a prior portion (2) and from a following portion (2) by a corresponding gap (18); a second feeding device (12) configured to feed, in the wrapping duct (14), the objects (3) between two adjacent portions (2); a longitudinal sealing unit (9) to longitudinally seal the tubular wrap at an overlapping zone of the wrapping material band (8); and a transverse sealing unit (10) to transversely seal the tubular wrap so as to form an alternating succession of sealing zones and zones containing a portion (2) of loose product and an object (3) are provided for.