Single Drive Spreading Adjustment for Sausage Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming a braid free of filling material on packaging casing material are complex and require additional drives for overspreading, which can damage packaging and increase mechanical wear, especially when handling coarse-grained contents.
Innovation Solution
A device with a single drive for both spreading and overspreading, featuring a reversible second displacement unit and a drive force transmission unit that is pivotable and adjustable, allowing for stepless adjustment of the overspread and simplified control through an actuating unit with a motor-driven gear wheel and guide rods for precise force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a second drive is added for overspreading, then the creation of extended braid free of filling material is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first drive is designed to perform both the primary spreading function and the overspreading function. The drive unit can adjust its operational mode to achieve different spreading extents, allowing one drive to fulfill multiple functions that would traditionally require separate drives.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the second pair of displacement shears is made dynamically adjustable during the spreading process. By allowing the shears to be positioned at different locations along the feed path at different times, the system achieves variable overspreading capabilities without requiring a dedicated second drive.
2Productivity
If displacement shears are used for tightly filling, then the packaging casing material is compressed, but the risk of packaging damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing force applied by the displacement shears is made dynamically adjustable. The system can adapt the compression force based on the specific requirements of the filling material and packaging type, applying sufficient force for efficient filling while avoiding excessive force that would cause damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational parameters of the displacement shears, including pressing force, spreading speed, and stroke length, are made variable. This allows optimization of the filling process for different materials and packaging types, maintaining high productivity while minimizing the risk of packaging damage through parameter adjustment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple drives are used for spreading functions, then the overspreading capability is improved, but the mechanical wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the first drive to handle both primary spreading and overspreading functions, the system reduces the total number of moving parts and drive mechanisms. This consolidation decreases the cumulative mechanical wear across the system while maintaining full spreading control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of multiple drives are merged into a single drive unit with adjustable capabilities. This consolidation reduces the number of mechanical interfaces, bearings, and drive components that would otherwise be subject to wear, thereby extending the overall mechanical lifespan of the equipment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Device has a displacement shear pair (120) moved reversibly in a linear movement opposite to a displacement shear pair (110). A drive unit (320) drives the linear movement of the displacement shear pair (120). A drive force transmission unit (310) is provided between the drive unit and the displacement shear pair (120). The drive force transmission unit transmits a drive force generated by the drive unit, on the displacement shear pair (120). The drive force transmission unit is swivelable reversibly about a swivel point (340), where the position of the swivel point is adjustable.