Sealing Machine Protective Frame Perforations Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sealing machines face limitations in throughput due to the time required for aeration, which also poses safety risks for operators as they need to exert significant force to open the chamber lid against negative pressure, often with protective frames that can hinder safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A sealing machine design with a kinematically connected protective frame that has perforations allowing controlled gas flow into the enclosed volume, facilitating quicker pressure equalization and ensuring operator safety by minimizing the force needed to open the chamber lid, while maintaining sterile conditions through selective control of air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the chamber lid is surrounded by a protective frame to prevent accidental operator intervention, then operator safety is improved, but the force required to open the lid against negative pressure increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective frame is segmented with perforations that allow controlled gas flow. This segmentation enables the frame to maintain its safety function while allowing pressure equalization, resolving the contradiction between safety and throughput by dividing the frame structure into functional segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective frame has different properties in different locations: solid sections provide safety and structural support, while perforated sections allow gas flow for pressure equalization. This local differentiation enables the single component to fulfill both safety and throughput requirements simultaneously.
2Productivity
If the chamber lid is opened against negative pressure to remove sealed packages and insert new ones, then the sealing process can continue, but considerable force is required and vacuum delays the lifting process
Solution Approach 1:
The perforations in the protective frame enable preliminary pressure equalization to occur as the lid begins to open, before full opening is achieved. This preliminary action reduces the force requirement and eliminates vacuum delays by allowing gas to flow in and equalize pressure during the opening process.
3Reliability
If gas is extracted from the enclosed volume to create sterile conditions for sealing, then shelf life of packaged products is improved, but the enclosed volume must be refilled with gas which involves opening the chamber lid and causes delays
Solution Approach 1:
The protective frame incorporates perforations that create localized gas flow paths. This allows gas to be introduced into the enclosed volume through specific locations in the frame rather than requiring full lid opening, enabling aeration to occur locally while maintaining the overall sealed environment for sterile conditions.
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 enhances the throughput of sealed packages by accelerating pressure equalization and ensuring operator safety through controlled air flow, preventing unintended package movement and maintaining sterile conditions during sealing.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the negative pressure within the enclosed volume, considerable force is required, and the vacuum can cause delays when lifting the chamber lid
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
Sealing machine (100) for sealing packaging (130), the sealing machine (100) comprising a sealing chamber (110) in which packaging (130) can be sealed, the sealing chamber (110) comprising a transport plane (E) on which packaging (130) can be transported, a chamber lid (101) movable relative to the transport plane (E) between an open and a closed position, a sealing device (120) for sealing packaging (130), and an extraction system (140) for extracting gas from a volume (V) enclosed by the chamber lid (101) and the transport plane (E), the sealing machine (100) further comprising a protective frame (102) kinematically connected to the chamber lid (101), and the protective frame (102) having perforations (150) through which gas can flow from the outside into the enclosed volume (V).