Single-Body Bending Device for Rigid Cigarette Pack Blanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional apparatuses for producing rigid packets with hinged lids for smoking articles face issues such as imprecise bending lines, high energy consumption, increased production costs, and maintenance challenges due to a large number of stations and transfer wheel size, as well as contamination from glue, leading to reduced productivity and quality.
Innovation Solution
A compact apparatus with a single-body structure featuring flexing and bending members that pre-bend transverse and longitudinal lines in a single work step, reducing the number of stations and improving precision and efficiency, while minimizing energy consumption and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large number of stations and a big transfer wheel are used to perform bending operations, then the precision of bending lines improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple bending operations (first bending, second bending, and third bending) into a single integrated bending device with multiple bending members that act simultaneously on the blank. This merging of operations reduces the number of stations required and simplifies the transfer wheel design while maintaining precise bending line definition through the coordinated action of multiple bending members.
Solution Approach 2:
The bending device is segmented into multiple independent bending members (first bending member, second bending member, third bending member), each responsible for specific bending operations. This segmentation allows each member to be optimized for its specific function while working in coordination, achieving precise bending lines without requiring a complex multi-station system.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple stations and a large transfer wheel are provided, then bending operations can be performed, but energy consumption and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple bending operations into a single station with multiple bending members working simultaneously, the patent eliminates the need for the blank to be stopped and transferred multiple times between stations. This continuous operation significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining precise bending line definition through the coordinated action of all bending members.
3Manufacturing precision
If a large transfer wheel with many stations is used, then complete bending operations can be achieved, but maintenance requirements and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple bending functions into a single integrated bending device with a reduced number of stations. This consolidation simplifies the overall system architecture, reducing the number of components that require maintenance while maintaining high-quality bending lines through the coordinated operation of multiple bending members in one station.
4Manufacturing precision
If glue is used in intermediate stations, then panel bonding is achieved, but contamination occurs and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs all necessary bending operations as preliminary actions before the final gluing and bonding stage. By completing all bending operations in advance in a dedicated bending station, the system eliminates the need for intermediate stopping and glue application at multiple stations, thereby maintaining continuous operation and high productivity while achieving proper panel bonding through the pre-bent configuration.
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 enables precise and well-defined bending lines, reduced production costs, and increased productivity with lower energy consumption and maintenance requirements, while minimizing contamination and improving the overall quality of the packets.
Implementation Method 1
The holding heads are provided with suction-type retaining members, such as suckers, to retain and position the blank
Implementation Method 2
To reduce the residual elastic return, known making-up apparatuses are equipped with flexing units, which perform a pre-bending of the blanks in order to flex them along the longitudinal and/or transverse bending lines
Implementation Method 3
The bending line of the smaller transverse panel as above can be obtained and defined by a screw-type bending member, provided to operate tangentially along the periphery of an angular segment of the transfer wheel so that, while the blank is turning, carried by the transfer wheel, it is subjected to the bending action of the screw-type bending member
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5
AI summary
Apparatus for working blanks to make rigid packets with a hinged lid for smoking articles, starting from a substantially flat blank (100), wherein the apparatus comprises a wheel to transfer the blanks (12) provided with an entrance station (14) and an exit station (16), between which a predefined transfer path (P) develops, and with a flexing and bending station (18) provided in an intermediate position between the entrance station (14) and the exit station (16), and wherein the entrance station (14) is associated with a blank feeding store (22). In correspondence with the flexing and bending station (18) there is a device to work blanks comprising a structure in a single body provided with a pair of first flexing or pre-bending members (32), configured to flex a transverse bending line (115') between a first smaller upper panel (122') and a second smaller upper panel (124') of the blank (100) and to pre-bend the first smaller upper panel (122'), a pair of second flexing or pre-bending members (34), configured to flex longitudinal bending lines (120') of the blank (100) and to pre-bend at least the longitudinal lateral panels (1 18', 1 19') of the blank (100) associated with the longitudinal bending lines (120'), at least one complete bending member (52), configured to bend at 180° the first smaller upper panel (122') adjacent against the second smaller upper panel (124') of the blank (100) for gluing purposes.