Rotating Die Support for Vacuum Packaging Tray Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging machines for food trays are inflexible and require manual substitution of dies and heat-sealing plates for different tray dimensions, leading to extended shutdowns and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A packaging device with a rotating supporting surface that accommodates multiple dies of varying dimensions, a measurement station for automatic die selection, and a vacuum bell with kinematically connected heat-sealing and cutting means, allowing for efficient processing of trays of different formats and dimensions without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual substitution of dies and heat-sealing plates is used for different tray dimensions, then the machine can process various tray formats, but the machine requires extended shutdown and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a rotating supporting surface that can dynamically switch between multiple dies and heat-sealing plates during operation. This dynamic configuration allows the machine to process different tray formats without shutdown, as the rotation mechanism enables quick transitions between different tooling sets while maintaining continuous production flow
Solution Approach 2:
The single supporting surface is designed to accommodate multiple dies and heat-sealing plates with different dimensions and formats simultaneously. This multi-functional design allows one machine to handle various tray types by simply rotating to the appropriate tooling configuration, eliminating the need for manual substitution and extending machine versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual substitution of dies and heat-sealing plates is performed, then the machine can adapt to specific trays, but complex substitution requires extended machine shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating supporting surface provides a dynamic solution where multiple dies and heat-sealing plates are pre-positioned on a single rotating platform. This eliminates the complexity of manual substitution operations, as the system automatically transitions between different tooling configurations through rotation rather than requiring operator intervention to physically replace components
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple dies and heat-sealing plates are pre-arranged on the rotating supporting surface in advance. This preliminary preparation allows the machine to switch between different tray formats by simply rotating to the pre-positioned tooling, eliminating the need for complex real-time substitution operations during production
3Manufacturing precision
If dedicated machines are used for specific tray types, then the heat-sealing operation is precise, but the machines are difficult to modify for different formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal supporting surface that can accommodate multiple dies and heat-sealing plates of different dimensions and formats. This allows a single machine to maintain precise heat-sealing operations for various tray types by rotating to the appropriate pre-configured tooling, eliminating the need for dedicated machines for each tray format while preserving manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating supporting surface enables dynamic reconfiguration of the heat-sealing station to match different tray formats. By rotating to the die and heat-sealing plate that correspond to the specific tray dimensions being processed, the machine maintains optimal heat-sealing precision for each format without requiring physical modification or reconfiguration of the underlying machine structure
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
Enables flexible operation with various tray formats and dimensions, reduces machine downtime, and minimizes film waste by automatically selecting the correct die and determining the required film length, enhancing reliability and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum bell (17) which comprises, internally, heat-sealing means (19) and cutting means (21)
Implementation Method 2
heat-sealing means (19) for heat-sealing a film (5) on the edge of a tray (7)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A packaging device (1), particularly for vacuum packaging, and particularly for packaging trays containing food products or the like, which comprises a heat-sealing and cutting station (3) for heat-sealing a film (5) on the edge of a tray (7) and for cutting the film (5), the device further comprising a supporting surface (9) that comprises a plurality of receptacles (11) that accommodate a plurality of dies (13) which can have different dimensions and/or formats in order to accommodate trays (7) of different dimensions and/or formats, the supporting surface (9) being actuatable in order to move one of such dies (13) at the heat-sealing and cutting station (3)·