Rotating Head Packaging Machine Sealing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional packaging machines with multiple fixed stations are complex, fragile, and difficult to commission, and suffer from high sealing blade temperatures at varying speeds, leading to potential burning issues due to mechanically generated movement being proportional to operating speed.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine with a rotating head that integrates grasping, pushing, and sealing mechanisms, reducing stations to two and synchronizing these operations during head rotation from loading to unloading, allowing for efficient and consistent sealing without the need for multiple fixed stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fixed stations are used for sealing operations, then sealing operations can be conducted, but the machine becomes complex and fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sealing operations into a single rotating head assembly that performs all sealing tasks during one rotational cycle. The rotating head integrates multiple sealing surfaces and mechanisms that sequentially engage with products as the head rotates, eliminating the need for separate fixed sealing stations distributed around the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic rotating head that actively rotates to bring sealing surfaces into contact with products at appropriate positions. This dynamic approach replaces static fixed stations with a moving sealing mechanism that adapts its position and orientation during operation, reducing the number of stationary components required.
2Productivity
If high sealing blade temperature is used for short sealing time at top speed, then sealing is effective, but at low speeds the temperature is too high causing burning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements temperature control mechanisms that adjust sealing blade temperature based on operating speed. At high speeds, higher temperatures are maintained for effective sealing, while at low speeds the temperature is reduced to prevent burning. This dynamic parameter adjustment ensures optimal sealing conditions across varying production rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback control that monitors operating speed and adjusts sealing blade temperature accordingly. Speed sensors detect the current operational rate, and this information feeds back to the temperature control system, which modulates heating elements to maintain appropriate sealing temperatures for the current speed condition.
3Reliability
If the head waits at fixed stations for sealing operations, then sealing can be performed, but the number of product pick-up stations must be high (six or eight)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pick-up and sealing functions into a single rotating head assembly. Instead of having separate fixed stations for each operation, the rotating head integrates product reception, sealing, and ejection functions in one rotating component, reducing the number of pick-up stations from six or eight to just two.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating head serves multiple functions simultaneously: it receives products, performs sealing operations, and ejects packaged items. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for specialized stations for each operation, simplifying the overall machine architecture while maintaining complete sealing functionality.
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
This design simplifies the machine, reduces mechanical parts, decreases manufacturing and maintenance costs, facilitates size changes, and ensures optimal sealing performance across varying speeds by maintaining consistent sealing blade temperatures, thus improving operational efficiency and product packaging quality.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing of edges of film that wrap the product
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A machine for packaging products (13) in sealed film (25), comprises a product inlet feeding bench (12), a rotating head (15) for receiving and conveying products arriving sequentially from the feeding bench to a loading station (14) in the head and an outlet bench (17) that receives the products conveyed by the rotating head (15) to an unloading station (16) to evacuate them from the machine. The rotating head (15) comprises peripherally seats (30, 31) for receiving products and sealing means (45, 46, 47, 48) that rotates with these seats (30, 31) to achieve sealing of a film wound around the product in a seat (30, 31) whilst the head rotates to take the seat (30, 31) from the loading station (14) to the unloading station (31).