Slab Product Packaging With Movable Vacuum Film Holders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines for plate-shaped or cuboid products, such as chocolate slabs or bars, face issues with uncontrolled movement and misalignment during the packaging process, leading to potential damage, uneven packaging, and machine blockages due to the lack of effective control over the product and packaging film alignment, especially for products with structured surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs feeding devices to insert products into a packaging film blank, with movably configured holding devices that guide and hold the film blank in a predetermined orientation relative to the product, ensuring controlled movement and alignment, using vacuum means to secure the film, and coordinated movement with discharge devices to form sealed packages without direct contact with the product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If feed devices release the product after inserting it into the film blank, then the product can be transferred to discharge devices, but the product and film blank become uncontrolled and may shift relative to each other
Solution Approach 1:
A holding device acts as an intermediary between the feed device and discharge device. After the feed device inserts the product into the film blank, the holding device engages with both the product and the film blank to maintain their relative positioning. This intermediary device ensures that the product and film blank do not shift relative to each other during transfer, while still allowing the feed device to release the product for transfer to the discharge device.
2Ease of operation
If the film blank is folded loosely around the product before sealing, then the product can be inserted into the film, but the product and film may move relative to each other during conveying
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device serves as a mediator that engages with both the product and the loosely folded film blank. It maintains the film blank in a predetermined orientation and arrangement with respect to the product without preventing the initial loose folding that facilitates easy insertion. The holding device ensures stability during conveying while allowing ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device is movably configured and arranged to move at least partially in the conveying direction with the product through the packaging station. This dynamic characteristic allows the holding device to adapt to the product and film blank positioning during insertion, then maintain stability during conveying, and finally release for discharge.
3Manufacturing precision
If holding devices engage directly with the product to control its position, then alignment precision improves, but products with structured surfaces may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device engages with both the product and the film blank simultaneously, using the film blank as a mediator to indirectly control product position. This approach maintains precise alignment without direct contact that could damage structured product surfaces. The holding device holds the film blank in a predetermined orientation with respect to the product, which in turn maintains product positioning accuracy.
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 solution ensures precise alignment and secure packaging of products with structured surfaces, preventing damage and machine blockages by maintaining the film and product alignment throughout the packaging process, resulting in uniform and visually appealing packages.
Implementation Method 1
holding devices being movably configured and arranged to move at least partially in the conveying direction with the product through the packaging station, wherein they hold the respective blank of the packaging material film being wrapped around the product
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for packaging substantially plate-shaped or cuboid-shaped products in the food industry in a packaging material film, the apparatus having feeding devices for feeding products to a packaging station; guiding devices for feeding a blank of the packaging material film to the packaging station, wherein the product is inserted into the blank such that the packaging material film substantially wraps around the product; discharge devices for discharging the product from the packaging station in a wrapped state; and holding devices being movably configured and arranged to move with the product through the packaging station.