Removable Printing Kit for Packaging Web Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines face challenges in synchronizing the packaging material with the printing unit during the printing process, and in effectively detecting and tracking pillow packs and packages, especially during non-nominal production events.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine equipped with a removable printing kit that includes a printer device and a sensor device, configured to print codes directly on the packaging material before it is folded into a tube, and to synchronize the printing process with the advancing web using speed detection and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If printing is performed on finished packages downstream of the folding unit, then the printing process is simple to implement, but synchronization between the packaging material and printing unit becomes difficult and tracking of packages becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by printing codes on the web of packaging material before it is folded into tubes and formed into packages. The printing unit is positioned upstream to print on the flat web material, which simplifies the printing process while ensuring reliable tracking since the codes are applied before the complex folding and forming operations that would make downstream printing and tracking difficult.
2Reliability
If codes are printed on the web of packaging material upstream, then synchronization and tracking are improved, but the printing unit becomes more complex to integrate into the production line
Solution Approach 1:
By performing the printing action preliminarily on the web before folding, the system achieves reliable synchronization and tracking. The printing unit is integrated into the web handling section where the material is still flat and easily accessible, avoiding the need for complex mechanisms to print on folded or moving packages downstream.
3Productivity
If a discard device is positioned between the forming and sealing unit and the folding unit, then faulty packs can be discarded, but the ability to track and identify discarded packs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The printing unit prints identification codes on the web upstream before the discard device location. This ensures that even if packs are discarded between the forming/sealing unit and folding unit, their tracking information is already recorded and can be monitored, preventing loss of information about discarded packs.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
There is described a packaging machine (1) configured for producing sealed packages (2) and comprising: conveying means configured to advance a web (4) of packaging material along an advancement path (P); a tube forming unit (5, 40) configured to fold the web (4) into a tube (3) and to longitudinally seal the tube (3); a forming and sealing unit (6) configured to form the tube (3) and seal the tube (3) along successive transversal cross-sections thereof in order to obtain a sequence of packs (2a); a folding device configured to sequentially fold the packs (2a) in order to obtain a plurality of sealed packages (2); and a printing system (11) comprising a printer device (12) configured to sequentially print codes (13) on the packaging material; the printer device (12) is arranged along the advancement path (P) in a position operatively upstream of the forming and sealing unit (6), and is configured to print said codes (13) directly on the web (4).