Sealed Seam Folding Rollers for Tubular Bag Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sealing technologies fail to control the orientation of the sealed seam relative to the packaging material, leading to potential deformation or damage during handling, affecting the aesthetic and structural integrity of the package.

Innovation Solution

A sealing device with a pair of heated sealing rollers and a pair of non-heated conveyor rollers, where the conveyor rollers have an inclined folding surface, allowing for controlled folding of the sealed seam relative to the packaging material, ensuring precise and damage-resistant sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sealed seam is produced perpendicular to the conveying plane using conventional sealing rollers, then the sealing function is achieved, but the sealed seam cannot be controlled in orientation and is prone to deformation or damage during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealed seam integrityVSAvoidsealed seam orientation control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor roller is segmented into two distinct functional surfaces: a cylindrical conveying surface for transporting the packaging material and an inclined folding surface for folding the sealed seam. This segmentation allows each surface to perform its specific function optimally, enabling both transport and folding operations to occur simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor roller is designed to perform multiple functions: it conveys the packaging material through its cylindrical surface and simultaneously folds the sealed seam through its inclined surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate folding mechanisms, reducing device complexity while achieving both transport and folding objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a separate folding mechanism is added to control the sealed seam orientation, then the sealed seam can be folded accurately, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealed seam folding accuracyVSAvoidsealing device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The folding function is merged with the conveying roller by integrating an inclined folding surface onto the roller's circumference. This combination allows the same component that transports the material to also perform the folding operation, eliminating the need for additional folding mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the sealed seam extends arbitrarily from the package, then the sealing process is simple, but the package aesthetics are reduced and handling becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing process simplicityVSAvoidpackage appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined folding surface is positioned to fold the sealed seam immediately after it is created by the sealing rollers. This preliminary folding action ensures the sealed seam is properly oriented before the package enters subsequent handling processes, preventing deformation and improving appearance without requiring additional post-sealing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inclined folding surface utilizes a curved, inclined geometry that naturally guides the sealed seam into the desired folded position. The curved surface provides a smooth transition and consistent folding angle, ensuring uniform appearance and proper orientation of the sealed seam across all packages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 easy and accurate folding of the sealed seam, reducing the risk of deformation or damage, enhancing package stability and aesthetics, and simplifying the assembly by combining transport and folding functions in a single mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of heated sealing rollers for providing the sealed seam in the packaging material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

applying heat so that the packaging material melts locally and a seal is created

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 3

At least one of the pair of non-heated conveyor rollers comprises an inclined folding surface for folding the sealed seam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP4684943A1Sealing device, tubular bag packaging machine and method for producing a sealed seam

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO KG

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AI summary

A sealing device (102) for producing a sealed seam (156) on a packaging material (150) comprises: a pair of heated sealing rollers (300) for providing the sealed seam (156) in the packaging material (150), and a pair of non-heated conveyor rollers (400), which comprises a cylindrical conveying surface (403, 404) for moving the packaging material (150) along a running direction (T) of the sealing device (102). At least one of the pair of non-heated conveyor rollers (400) comprises an inclined folding surface (405, 406) for folding the sealed seam (156). The inclined folding surface (405, 406) is inclined relative to the cylindrical conveying surface (403, 404).