Sealing Machine with Independent Rollers for Material Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing machines require labor-intensive adjustments to accommodate different properties of sealing materials, leading to downtimes and reduced usability.

Innovation Solution

A sealing machine with independently driven pairs of tracking and heating rollers, allowing for adjustable tensioning and heating without physical modifications, using two pairs of heating rollers that can be enabled or disabled based on material requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If sealing machines use fixed physical structures for tensioning and heating rollers, then the machine structure remains simple, but the machine requires labor-intensive adjustments and experiences downtimes when changing sealing material properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different sealing material propertiesVSAvoidmachine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements independently driven tracking rollers and heating rollers with variable speeds, replacing fixed mechanical structures with dynamic, controllable elements. This allows the machine to adapt to different sealing material properties by adjusting roller speeds and tensions without physical modifications, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes operational parameters (roller speeds, heating temperatures, tensions) rather than physical structures when adapting to different sealing materials. By controlling the driving speeds of tracking rollers and heating rollers independently, the system achieves versatility without increasing mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If sealing machines perform labor-intensive adjustments for different sealing materials, then the machine can accommodate various material properties, but productivity decreases due to increased downtimes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to accommodate different sealing materialsVSAvoidproductivity due to downtimes
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustments with automated control systems that independently drive tracking rollers and heating rollers. This substitution eliminates labor-intensive adjustments and minimizes downtimes when changing sealing materials, thereby maintaining adaptability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures independent driving mechanisms for tracking and heating rollers, allowing rapid parameter adjustments without manual intervention. This preliminary setup enables quick adaptation to different sealing materials, reducing downtime and maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If sealing machines use independently driven tracking and heating rollers, then the machine can adjust tensioning and heating parameters flexibly, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjusting tensioning and heating parametersVSAvoidcomplexity of independent roller driving system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamically controllable roller driving systems with independent speed regulation. This allows operators to easily adjust tensioning and heating parameters through control systems rather than complex mechanical linkages, improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through electronic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 sealing of various materials with reduced downtimes by independently controlling the rollers, ensuring reliable tensioning and sealing without structural changes.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of heating rollers for sealing a sealing material by applying heat to a fin moved between the set of heating rollers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

applying heat so that the material locally melts and comes a sealing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

a pair of tracking rollers for tensioning a sealing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTension: Tension

Data Source

PatentEP4166306B1A sealing machine and a method for sealing a sealing material
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4166306B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4166306B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4166306B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A sealing machine for sealing a sealing material by heating a fin of a sealing material wrapped around a product, the sealing machine comprising, in a transport direction of a sealing material, a pair of tracking rollers for tensioning a sealing material and a pair of heating rollers for sealing a sealing material by applying heat to a fin moved between the pair of heating rollers, wherein the pair of tracking rollers and the pair of heating rollers are driven independently.