Padding Machine for Packaging Substantial Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines for substantial products like cucumbers often fail to position them correctly, leading to damage or breakage of the product or container, resulting in inefficiencies and increased workforce costs due to manual handling and frequent machine downtime for cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A padding machine with a carousel assembly, positioning seats, and adjustable packing pads that use cam followers and sliding rods to center and pack products precisely, preventing shear and breakage, and allowing for automatic recovery of overflowing products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual packaging is used to arrange cucumbers protruding from containers, then product positioning accuracy is improved, but workforce expenditure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pad with lever arm and completion element automatically centers cucumbers protruding from containers by engaging with the container mouth, eliminating the need for manual arrangement while maintaining precise positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning pad acts as an intermediary mechanism between the container and the packing pad, using the container mouth as a reference to automatically position cucumbers correctly before packing occurs
2Extent of automation
If guides are used to arrange products with respect to container mouth, then automation is improved, but product positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pad with lever arm engages with the container mouth as an intermediary reference point, using the actual container position to dynamically determine the correct product position, thereby maintaining precision while achieving automation
Solution Approach 2:
The completion element is specifically designed to mate with the container mouth at the local position where products need arrangement, providing precise positioning tailored to each container's actual location
3Productivity
If packing pad descends without precise product positioning, then packaging speed is improved, but product damage and container breakage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pad performs preliminary positioning of cucumbers by engaging with the container mouth before the packing pad descends, ensuring products are correctly centered to prevent damage during the high-speed packing operation
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning mechanism provides a cushioning effect by gently engaging with the container mouth and adjusting product position before the forceful descent of the packing pad, preventing sudden impacts that could cause damage
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 machine ensures precise positioning and packaging of substantial products without damaging them or breaking containers, optimizing the packaging process, reducing workforce costs, and enhancing reliability and safety while being economically viable.
Implementation Method 1
a cam follower roller (25) which follows a lower cam-like path (26) so that during the rotation of the carousel the pads in the initial step of insertion of the containers are made to move closer to the containers
Implementation Method 2
The pads (30) are supported by sliding rods (31), which have upper cam following rollers (32) that are made to slide within an upper circular cam (33), so as to perform insertion after the positioning pad has defined the chamber (24) above the container
Data Source
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AI summary
A padding machine (1) for packaging substantial products, particularly cucumbers and the like, comprising, on a supporting frame (2), a carousel assembly (3) for the advancement of containers (4) and the like, the machine further comprising, on the carousel assembly (3), at each container (4), a positioning pad (20) for centering the products that overflow laterally from the mouth of the container (4) and a packing pad (30) for inserting the products in the container (4).