Split Forming Shoulder for Tubular Bagging Machine Threading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tubular bagging machines face challenges in threading wrapping material into a stable position due to the risk of material getting caught in gaps, pinching, and difficulty in multi-lane operations, especially with small diameters and sensitive materials, leading to increased threading time and potential tears.

Innovation Solution

A tool with a split forming shoulder divided into three parts, where the first and second parts are pivotable around a central axis, forming a continuous passage gap, and a stationary part that extends vertically, allowing for controlled movement to prevent material pinching and facilitate easy threading by maintaining a symmetrical position of the wrapping material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the forming shoulder is divided into two parts that can be pivoted 180° open, then accessibility for threading is improved, but gaps are formed in the closed position that risk pinching the strip

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreading accessibilityVSAvoidrisk of strip pinching
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The forming shoulder is divided into three parts instead of two, with a stationary part and two movable parts. This segmentation allows the movable parts to pivot open for threading accessibility while the stationary part maintains continuous support to prevent pinching when closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of pivoting the entire forming shoulder open as in prior art, only the two movable parts are pivoted while the stationary part remains fixed. This inverted approach maintains continuity in the closed position while providing accessibility when open.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If the pivotable parts are pivoted outwards by 180°, then accessibility is maximized, but multi-lane operation requires considerable spreading of strips

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreading accessibilityVSAvoidspreading requirement for multi-lane operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the forming shoulder into three parts allows each movable part to be independently positioned, enabling multi-lane operation with minimal spreading while maintaining threading accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a two-part forming shoulder is used, then accessibility is improved, but manual adjustment is required to vary bag width

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidmanual adjustment requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The three-part design with one stationary and two movable parts provides inherent stability that reduces the need for manual adjustment while maintaining accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the forming shoulder has a continuous circumferential passage gap, then threading is facilitated, but the strip may get caught in gaps at the joint area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethreading facilitationVSAvoidrisk of strip catching
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the forming shoulder into three parts with a stationary component eliminates the continuous gap problem by providing a stable reference point that prevents strip catching while maintaining passage gap functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary part acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the movable parts, ensuring continuous support and preventing gap formation that could catch the strip.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2048084B1Tool for a tubular bag-making machine for deforming a strip of wrapping material into a tube
Publication Date: 2011.11.23 MEDISEAL GMBH
  • EP2048084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2048084B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2048084B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A tool (4) for a tubular bag machine (1) serves to form a flat strip of wrapping material (33) into a tube. The tool (4) has a filling tube (3) and a forming shoulder (2) with a first part (7), a second part (8), and a third part (13). The forming shoulder (2) has a channel (18) for receiving the filling tube (3). A passage gap (27) for the passage of the wrapping material strip (33) or tube is formed between the filling tube (3) and the channel (18). The third part (13) is stationary and vertically defines the channel (18) continuously over a circumferential angle of less than 180°. The first part (7) and the second part (8) form the channel (18) following the third part (13). The forming shoulder (2) is divided in a parting plane (6) defined by the central axis (5) of the filling tube (3) and the forming shoulder (2) as well as by the center line (35) of the covering material strip (33) to form the parts (7, 8).The first part (7) and the second part (8) are designed and arranged so that they can pivot relative to each other, such that the two parts (7, 8) can be moved into a closed position (9) around the filling tube (3) and into an open position (10), and when transitioning into the closed position (9) they move at least approximately radially (29) to the surface of the filling tube (3) and thus perpendicular to the extent of the wrapping material strip (33) in the circumferential direction.