Pneumatic Bag Positioning for Flexible Valve Bags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging systems face challenges in efficiently and precisely picking up and aligning flexible valve bags for automatic filling, leading to reduced attachment rates due to their lack of rigidity and difficulty in maintaining defined positions during processing.
Innovation Solution
A space-saving device with a positioning system using inclined air nozzles to gently blow flexible valve bags into defined positions on a storage table, eliminating the need for mechanical alignment and ensuring reproducible bag placement for high attachment rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical alignment methods (sliders or grippers) are used to align flexible valve bags, then the bags can be picked up and processed, but the mechanical load causes folds on the bag surface and undefined positions, reducing attachment rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment systems (sliders and grippers) with a pneumatic positioning system using air nozzles that blow air onto the bag surface to define bag positions without mechanical contact, eliminating folds and position uncertainty
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses air nozzles to deliver controlled air blasts onto the flexible valve bags, utilizing pneumatic pressure to align and position bags precisely on the storage table without mechanical force that would cause deformation
2Ease of manufacture
If flexible materials (fabric or foil) are used for valve bags, then production cost decreases and strength increases, but the bags become significantly less rigid and more difficult to align individually
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment systems with pneumatic positioning using air nozzles that can handle flexible materials without causing deformation, enabling precise alignment of non-rigid bags made from cost-effective flexible materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the positioning approach from mechanical contact to pneumatic pressure application, allowing flexible bag materials to maintain their flexibility while achieving defined positions through controlled air pressure
3Productivity
If high filling rates are achieved with modern filling services, then productivity increases, but even a 0.1% reduction in attachment rate results in significant accumulation of unattached bags
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary pneumatic positioning to define bag positions before the picking and attachment process, ensuring that even at high filling rates, every bag is precisely positioned for successful attachment to filler necks
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to detect bag positions and provides feedback to the pneumatic positioning system, allowing real-time adjustments to maintain high attachment rates even during high-speed operation
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 significantly increases the attachment rate of flexible valve bags by ensuring precise and reproducible alignment, allowing for efficient filling of various materials into valve bags automatically, even when made of non-rigid materials like fabric or foil.
Implementation Method 1
positioning device with at least one blowing device having at least one air nozzle inclined to the horizontal, which is aligned obliquely from above towards one end of the bag to be picked up in order to position the top bag of the bag bundle to be picked up in a defined manner at a stop by at least one targeted air blast
Data Source
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AI summary
A receiving device and method for the defined receiving of flexible valve bags, comprising a storage device on which a bag can be arranged lying down and from which the bag can be individually grasped and picked up. A positioning device with a blowing device is provided to precisely position the bag to be received against a stop by means of a targeted burst of air.