Pillow Packaging Device Upstream Cutting and Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pillow manufacturing devices for packaging materials face challenges in being compact, reliable, easy to operate, and efficient in producing minimal waste, with issues related to sealing and inflation consistency.

Innovation Solution

A material web inflating and cutting device with a modular design that includes a coaxial fluid inlet and inflation opening for straight fluid flow, a cutting mechanism with a blade protruding from the nozzle, and a sealing mechanism for longitudinal sealing, allowing simultaneous inflation and cutting of the material web to form sealed pillows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a material web inflating and cutting device is used, then pillow production efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepillow production efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a web advancement mechanism for material transport, a sealing mechanism for sealing the web, an inflation mechanism with nozzle for inserting fluid, and a cutting mechanism for cutting the web. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently adjusted or maintained, resolving the complexity issue while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inflation mechanism integrates both inflation and cutting functions in one assembly. The nozzle serves as both the fluid insertion point and the mounting structure for the cutting blade, allowing simultaneous inflation and cutting operations. This multi-functionality improves productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the cutting mechanism is disposed upstream of the inflation opening, then cutting precision is improved, but pillow sealing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidpillow sealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting mechanism is positioned upstream of the inflation opening so that the web is cut to the correct length before inflation occurs. This preliminary cutting action ensures precise pillow dimensions while the subsequent sealing mechanism then reliably seals the inflated pillow, preventing leakage or bursting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device operates continuously with the web advancing through sealing, cutting, and inflation in an uninterrupted sequence. The sealing mechanism seals the web before cutting, and the inflation mechanism inflates the sealed web immediately after cutting, maintaining continuous production flow while ensuring each pillow is properly sealed and cut to specification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Speed

If the inflation mechanism inserts fluid quickly, then production speed is improved, but pillow sealing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidpillow sealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing mechanism seals the web before the inflation mechanism inserts fluid. This preliminary sealing action ensures that the web is properly sealed and ready to contain the fluid, allowing rapid fluid insertion without compromising sealing reliability. The sequence of sealing then inflating maintains both speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates control mechanisms that monitor the sealing and inflation processes. The sealing mechanism ensures proper seal formation before inflation, and the inflation mechanism adjusts fluid insertion based on web position and seal status, maintaining reliable sealing even at high production speeds through real-time process control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Volume of moving object

If the device is designed to be compact, then space utilization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into modular functional units (web advancement mechanism, sealing mechanism, inflation mechanism, cutting mechanism) that are compactly arranged. Each module is self-contained and can be accessed independently for operation or maintenance, making the compact device easy to operate despite its space-efficient design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting blade is mounted on the nozzle assembly, nesting the cutting function within the inflation mechanism structure. The web advancement mechanism, sealing mechanism, and inflation mechanism are arranged in a compact linear sequence. This nesting and compact arrangement reduces overall device volume while maintaining accessibility for operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 solution ensures reliable and efficient production of sealed pillows with reduced waste and improved operational efficiency, addressing the need for compact, easy-to-use, and waste-minimal pillow manufacturing.

Implementation Method 1

an inflation mechanism configured to insert a fluid into the material web to inflate it into pillows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid insertion and inflation:

Implementation Method 2

a sealing mechanism configured for sealing the material web to contain the inserted fluid within the pillows

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP2521648B1Packaging pillow device with upstream components
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 PREGIS INNOVATIVE PACKAGING INC
  • EP2521648B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2521648B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP2521648B1 patent drawingFigure 3c

AI summary

The disclosure describes a device for inflating and cutting a material web. The device can include a web advancement mechanism to advance a material web in a longitudinal path, an inflation mechanism for inserting a fluid into the material web to create one or more inflated pillows, a fluid inlet for providing the fluid to the inflation mechanism, and a cutting mechanism configured to cut the material web in the longitudinal path.