Packer Machine Gluing Station Dynamics for Cigarette Pack Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packer machines for producing rigid cigarette packs with hinged lids face challenges in efficiently applying glue due to the transverse arrangement of the blank, leading to high nozzle requirements and issues with glue drying during machine stops, resulting in rejected packs.
Innovation Solution
The packer machine design incorporates a gluing station closer to the folding zone of the outer wings, allowing for longitudinal movement of the blank, reducing the number of gluing nozzles needed and minimizing the risk of glue drying during stops by keeping the gluing process near the folding completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gluing station is placed far from the output station, then there is sufficient space for spraying gluing devices, but all cigarette packs between the gluing station and output station must be rejected in case of machine stop due to glue drying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic positioning by making the gluing station movable along the wrapping path. The gluing station can be positioned at different locations depending on the operational needs - closer to the output station during normal operation to minimize rejected packs, and can be adjusted when space constraints arise. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If the gluing station is brought closer to the output station, then pack rejection due to glue drying is minimized, but there is insufficient space for all necessary spraying gluing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The gluing station is designed as a movable unit that can be positioned at optimal locations along the wrapping path. This dynamic positioning allows the system to bring the gluing station close to the output station when needed to minimize pack rejection, while avoiding permanent space constraints. The movable nature of the station resolves the space limitation issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The gluing function is segmented into a separate movable station rather than having multiple fixed spraying devices distributed along the wrapping path. This segmentation allows consolidation of gluing operations into a compact unit that can be positioned optimally, reducing the total space required while maintaining effective gluing coverage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the blank is arranged transversally with respect to the forward movement direction, then the wrapping process is simplified, but a high number of gluing nozzles are required to apply glue effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains the simple transverse arrangement of the blank during wrapping but dynamically positions the movable gluing station to optimize glue application. The gluing station can be positioned at locations where the blank passes in a favorable orientation for glue application, reducing the number of nozzles needed while preserving the simplicity of the wrapping process.
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 simplifies the application of glue, reduces the number of gluing nozzles required, and minimizes pack rejection due to glue drying issues, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a gluing station in which spraying gluing devices apply a series of glue points (essentially hot glue points but also some vinyl-based cold glue points) on some parts of the blank so as to stabilize via gluing the shape of the cigarette pack
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A packer machine (24) to produce a cigarette pack (1) and having: a wrapping drum (25), which is mounted so as to rotate, with an intermittent motion, around a rotation axis (26) and moves a pocket (27) along a circular wrapping path (P1) extending between an input station (S1), where a wrap (3) and a blank (17) are inserted into the pocket (27), and an output station (S2); a first folding device, which is arranged along the first wrapping path (P1) and folds the blank (17) around the wrap (3); a gluing conveyor (29), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (17) from the pocket (27) of the wrapping drum (25) in the output station (S2) and moves the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (17) up to a transfer station (S3) along a straight gluing path (P2), which is parallel to the rotation axis (26) of the wrapping drum (25); at least one gluing device (31), which is arranged along the gluing path (P2) and applies glue (23) on first wings (9', 13') or on second wings (9", 13") of the blank (17); and a second folding device (34), which is arranged downstream of the gluing device (31) and folds the first wings (9', 13') by 90° against the second wings (9", 13"), thus completing the production of the cigarette pack (1).