Sachet Cutting and Roller Squeezing for Safer Liquid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for cutting and squeezing rejected pouches are inefficient, complicated, and pose safety risks, affecting productivity and requiring manual handling.
Innovation Solution
A cutting and sliding assembly with a roller assembly that allows linear movement and simultaneous cutting and squeezing of pouches, accommodating different thicknesses, and ergonomically designed for improved efficiency and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual cutting and squeezing of pouches is performed using sharp-edged blades, then the liquid content can be extracted, but safety risks arise due to injury to the operator and productivity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
A roller assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the operator and the pouches. The roller with textured surface grip and ridges provides automated squeezing action, eliminating direct contact with sharp blades while maintaining extraction effectiveness. The roller assembly mechanically transmits the squeezing force needed to extract liquid content without requiring manual blade handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus enables self-service operation where the device automatically performs cutting and squeezing functions. The cutting blade automatically cuts pouches as they are fed into the apparatus, and the roller assembly automatically squeezes them to extract liquid content into the collection container, minimizing operator intervention and exposure to hazards.
2Productivity
If known apparatuses with heavy plates and spikes or manual frame movement are used, then pouches can be cut and squeezed, but device complexity increases and productivity is affected due to manual handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus is segmented into distinct functional modules: a feeding mechanism for inserting pouches, a cutting blade for separating pouches, a roller assembly for squeezing and extracting liquid, and a collection container for receiving extracted content. This modular segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring complex integrated mechanisms or manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex hydraulic/pneumatic/pulley mechanisms found in known apparatuses are replaced with a simpler mechanical roller assembly. The roller with textured surface and ridges provides sufficient mechanical advantage for squeezing pouches through pure rotational motion, eliminating the need for complex fluid power systems or multiple moving parts while maintaining extraction effectiveness.
3Loss of time
If defective pouches are manually placed on base plate and empty pouches lifted off, then the cutting and squeezing process can be performed, but loss of time occurs due to repeated manual handling
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables continuous operation where pouches are fed into the apparatus one after another, cut continuously by the blade, and squeezed continuously by the rotating roller assembly. The collection container continuously receives extracted liquid content without interruption. This continuous flow process eliminates the stop-start nature of manual handling, where operators must repeatedly place and remove pouches, thereby minimizing time loss while maintaining operational simplicity.
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
Enhances productivity and safety by automating the cutting and squeezing process, allowing for efficient handling of pouches of varying thicknesses and reducing manual handling risks.
Implementation Method 1
a roller assembly which is configured to pull the one or more sachets/pouches through the cutting and sliding assembly, and squeeze the one or more sachets/pouches as the one or more sachets are pulled
Implementation Method 2
squeeze the one or more sachets/pouches as the one or more sachets are pulled
Data Source
AI summary
An improved apparatus 100 for cutting and squeezing sachets/pouches is disclosed, having a cutting and sliding assembly 200 configured to allow linear movement of one or more sachets/pouches and cut the one or more sachets/pouches as the one or more sachets/pouches undergo linear movement; and a roller assembly 300 configured to pull the one or more sachets/pouches through the cutting and sliding assembly, and squeeze the one or more sachets/pouches as the one or more sachets are pulled, the squeezing resulting in extracting contents of the one or more sachets/pouches. The cutting and sliding assembly 200 and the roller assembly 300 are accommodated within a container assembly 400 such that the squeezed out contents are collected within a container of the container assembly 400.