Rotatable Wedge Spreader for Bag Bottom Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sack bottom opening devices are prone to malfunctions due to steep wedge surfaces, structural complexity, and high maintenance requirements, leading to unreliable and slow production processes.
Innovation Solution
A device using a rotatable wedge element with a rising wedge surface to spread apart bag sections at the open end of a tubular sack body, allowing for precise and reliable bottom opening formation with reduced structural complexity and maintenance, featuring adjustable wedge heights and overlapping wedge elements for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a wedge element with a rising wedge surface is used to spread apart bag sections, then the bottom opening formation precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the rotational mechanism required
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge element is designed to rotate about an axis of rotation during operation, transforming from a static component to a dynamic one. This rotational movement allows the wedge surface to progressively engage and spread the bag sections over a longer distance, improving opening precision while keeping the mechanical structure relatively simple through the use of a single rotational degree of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge element is divided into functional zones: a wedge surface portion for spreading, a connection portion for mounting, and optionally a pre-opening portion. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function efficiently, with the wedge surface creating the opening through rotational movement while the connection portion provides stable mounting, thus improving precision without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Productivity
If multiple spreading elements with different wedge heights are used to increase opening width, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spreading elements are designed to rotate in coordination with each other, with their rotational positions synchronized to create a progressive opening effect. The elements can be arranged to overlap during rotation, allowing them to work on different sections of the bag body simultaneously, thus increasing productivity while maintaining a compact structure through coordinated motion rather than independent complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading elements are arranged in a spatial configuration where they overlap during rotation, utilizing the rotational dimension to sequence their engagement with the bag body. This allows multiple elements to occupy overlapping spatial positions at different rotational phases, effectively increasing opening width and productivity without requiring linear arrangement that would increase device footprint and complexity.
3Reliability
If the wedge surface rises counter to the direction of rotation, then the reliability of bottom opening formation is improved, but the maintenance effort increases due to wear on the rotating wedge element
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge surface is designed to engage the bag sections gradually as the wedge element rotates, with the rising surface configuration ensuring progressive separation before the full opening is achieved. This preliminary gradual engagement reduces shock loads and uneven stress distribution on the wedge surface, thereby reducing wear and maintenance requirements while maintaining reliable opening formation throughout the rotational cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge surface angle and rise profile are optimized to balance the spreading force distribution during rotation. By adjusting the wedge geometry parameters, the contact pressure is distributed more evenly across the wedge surface, reducing localized wear while maintaining the reliability of opening formation. The counter-to-rotation rise direction is specifically designed to minimize reverse friction and wear during the rotational motion.
4Productivity
If overlapping wedge elements are used for continuous operation, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wedge elements are mounted on a common rotational structure or synchronized shaft system, merging their rotational motion control into a single coordination mechanism. This allows the elements to overlap and work sequentially on different portions of the bag body while sharing a common drive and control system, thus achieving continuous operation capability without proportionally increasing the complexity of coordination mechanisms.
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 high-precision, reliable, and efficient bottom opening formation with reduced maintenance and operational speed, minimizing malfunctions and extending the service life of the opening device.
Implementation Method 1
the rotatable spreading element has a wedge element with at least one wedge surface that rises counter to the direction of rotation, with which the bag sections at the open end area of the tubular bag body can be spread apart
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for forming a bottom opening (8) between bag sections (2', 2'') at the open end region (9) of a tubular bag body (2), comprising a transport device (3) for transporting the bag body (2) in a transport direction (5) transversely to its longitudinal extension (6), and an opening device (7) for forming the bottom opening (8) between the bag sections (2', 2'') at the open end region (9) of the tubular bag body (2). According to the invention, the opening device (7) comprises at least two spreading elements (10) in the form of wedge elements (12; 12', 12'', 12'''), which are successively arranged in the direction of transport (5) of the tubular bag body (2) and which are provided with edge surfaces (14; 14', 14'') rising counter to the rotational direction (13), by which the bag sections (2', 2'') can be spread apart at the open end region (9) of the tubular bag body (2) during the transport thereof on the transport device (3), wherein the wedge elements (12; 12', 12'', 12''') of successive spreading elements (10) have different wedge heights (h), which increase in the direction of transport (5) of the tubular bag body (2), preferably perpendicular to the support surface (4) for the tubular bag body (2) on the transport device (3).