Sealing Station Lifting Element for Extraction Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing stations face reduced suction power and throughput due to partial closure of suction openings by the film cover during the vacuuming process, leading to less effective air extraction from packaging.
Innovation Solution
A sealing station design featuring a lifting element that lifts the film lid away from the suction openings, ensuring they remain open during vacuuming and sealing, thereby maintaining suction power and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the film lid rests on the extraction openings during vacuuming, then the structure is simple, but the extraction performance is reduced due to partial blockage of openings
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting element is designed to be movable rather than fixed. It is raised during the extraction phase to keep openings clear, then lowered during sealing to allow the film lid to rest properly. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the structure's state to different operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting element is raised before the extraction process begins, preliminarily preventing the film lid from blocking the extraction openings. This preliminary action ensures that the openings remain clear throughout the extraction phase, maintaining extraction performance without requiring complex active control during the process.
2Productivity
If the film lid blocks the extraction openings, then no additional components are needed, but the throughput of the sealing station is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting element dynamically changes position between extraction and sealing phases. During extraction, it is raised to prevent blockage and maintain high throughput. During sealing, it is lowered to allow proper film lid positioning. This dynamic behavior increases productivity without requiring complex active control systems.
3Reliability
If the film lid is lifted away from the packaging recess during extraction, then extraction reliability is improved, but the sealing process may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting element is designed to be dynamically adjustable, raised during extraction to ensure reliability, then lowered before sealing to maintain process smoothness. This phase-dependent positioning resolves the contradiction by optimizing for extraction reliability when needed and sealing smoothness when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting element operates periodically, being raised during the extraction phase and lowered during the sealing phase. This periodic action ensures that extraction reliability is maintained during extraction, while sealing process smoothness is maintained during sealing, resolving the contradiction through time-based separation of functions.
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 reliability of air extraction and increases throughput by keeping suction openings open, ensuring effective evacuation and sterilization of packaging interiors without disrupting the sealing process.
Implementation Method 1
an edge extraction system with at least one extraction opening for pressurizing the interior of the packaging with a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
the lower tool further comprises a lifting element for lifting a film lid of the packaging
Implementation Method 3
By moving the upper tool of the sealing station and the lower tool towards each other, and by applying heat to the area of the film cover, the packaging is sealed by fusing the lower part of the package and the film cover together
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
Sealing station for sealing packaging, the sealing station comprising a lower tool with at least one receptacle for a package and an upper tool, wherein the lower tool and the upper tool are arranged to be movable relative to each other, wherein the sealing station includes an edge extraction system with at least one extraction opening for applying a vacuum and/or a gas to the interior of the packaging, and wherein the lower tool includes a lifting element for lifting a film lid of the packaging.