Pivoting Bag Support Surface for Granular Filling Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-speed bag filling machines face challenges in reducing energy consumption and ensuring bags are compactly filled without deformation, leading to irregular shapes that complicate pallet arrangement.

Innovation Solution

A machine with a supporting device featuring a pivot shaft and actuating means, including a motor and control system, allows the supporting surface to pivot with variable amplitude, optimizing the filling process by increasing the frequency of surface contact with the bag base, thus reducing air accumulation and improving compaction efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the bag filling speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but air accumulation inside the bag worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag filling speedVSAvoidair accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface executes periodic pivoting movements during the filling process, alternating between pivoted and non-pivoted positions. This periodic action creates repeated compaction cycles that effectively remove air from the bag while maintaining high filling speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and air accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If a fixed filling station with movable supporting surface is used, then air accumulation is reduced, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair accumulationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting surface pivots only partially during the filling process rather than continuously moving. By limiting the pivoting to specific phases and positions, the energy consumption is significantly reduced while still achieving effective air removal and compaction, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing air accumulation and lowering energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Shape

If the conveyor belt pivots in alternating manner to compact product, then bag shape regularity is improved, but filling speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag shape regularityVSAvoidfilling speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the pivoting amplitude and frequency based on the filling stage. During active filling, the pivoting is minimized to maintain high speed, while compaction pivoting is applied selectively at optimal moments. This dynamic control ensures both high filling speed and regular bag shape, resolving the contradiction between productivity and shape regularity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-generated harmful factors

If the supporting surface moves up and down continuously, then air is removed from bag, but bag upper part deforms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair accumulationVSAvoidbag deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The pivoting movement is designed to apply compaction force locally at the bag base rather than uniformly throughout the entire bag. This localized action effectively removes air from the filling zone without causing deformation of the upper bag portions, thus resolving the contradiction between air removal and shape maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4183703B1Machine for filling bags with a granular product and corresponding filling method
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 TECNICAS MECANICAS ILERDENSES
  • EP4183703B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4183703B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4183703B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Machine (1) for filling bags (100) with a granular product comprising a filling station (2). The machine comprises a supporting device (8) for supporting bags (100) below the filling station (2). The supporting device (8) comprises an assembled supporting surface (10) pivoting on a pivot shaft (12), and actuating means (18). The actuating means (18) are a motor the angular position of which is controlled by control means (32). The supporting surface (10) has a first end (14), arranged upstream of said filling station (2) in the forward movement direction of the bags, and a second end (16), arranged downstream of said filling station (2) in the forward movement direction of the bags. The supporting surface (10) can pivot in an alternating manner around said pivot shaft (12) for moving the base of the bag (100) which is located in the filling station (2) in operation during filling. The invention also relates to a method for filling said bag.