Sealing Jaws with Variable Angular Velocity for Packaging Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging machines are limited in production speed due to batch elongation caused by product batches following an arcuate path and impacting within the tubular bag material, leading to increased batch length and difficulty in minimizing product volume within formed bags.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine with rotatably driven sealing jaws and a film drive assembly that includes servo motors and a control system to alter the angular velocity of the jaws and belt, allowing the jaws to engage the tubular bag material with a peripheral velocity less than the belt's velocity, and reversing direction to settle product towards the bag's lower end, reducing batch elongation and increasing production speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the packaging machine operates at high speed, then productivity increases, but batch elongation occurs causing product to be located between sealing jaws
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing jaw assembly is made dynamically adjustable in position along the path of the tubular bag material. The distance between the sealing jaw and the former can be varied to compensate for batch elongation, allowing the sealing jaw to maintain proper positioning relative to the product batch even at high operating speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of sealing jaw position to adapt to varying batch lengths. By adjusting the sealing jaw's location relative to the former, the system compensates for the elongation effect that occurs at different operating speeds, thereby maintaining precise product positioning
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fall length from former to packaging machine is increased, then machine design flexibility improves, but batch elongation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning of the sealing jaw relative to the former before the product batch arrives. By pre-adjusting the sealing jaw position based on anticipated batch elongation, the system compensates for the effects of increased fall length and maintains accurate product positioning
3Device complexity
If product batches follow an arcuate path, then packaging machine structure is simplified, but product impacts itself causing batch length increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing jaw assembly incorporates dynamic positioning capability that allows it to adapt to the arcuate path of the product batch. The adjustable mechanism compensates for the elongation caused by the arcuate trajectory, maintaining proper sealing position despite the simplified curved path 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
The solution effectively minimizes batch elongation, allowing the packaging machine to operate at higher speeds and increase the number of bags produced per minute by ensuring the product settles towards the lower end of the bag, reducing the likelihood of product being missed by the sealing jaws.
Implementation Method 1
This function is performed by heating the tubular bag material along its longitudinally overlapping edges and by applying pressure to the overlapping longitudinal edges
Implementation Method 2
This function is performed by heating the tubular bag material along its longitudinally overlapping edges and by applying pressure to the overlapping longitudinal edges
Data Source
AI summary
A packaging assembly (10) including a weighing machine (11) that includes buckets (12, 13) to provide batches of product to be delivered to a former (41), with the former (41) delivering tubular bag material with product to a packaging machine (18). The tubular bag material is delivered to the packaging machine (18) by means of a film drive assembly (17).