Stick Pack Sealing Group with Pre-Seal Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines for stick packs create stick packs with an undesired internal air volume, leading to increased size and difficulties in superposing packs during subsequent packing, due to the trapping of air during the sealing process.
Innovation Solution
A method and sealing group that compresses the continuous tubular packaging before sealing, using deformable elements to evacuate air, resulting in stick packs with an internal volume substantially composed of the product only.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If sealing is performed without prior compression, then the sealing process is simple and fast, but air remains trapped inside the stick pack increasing its volume
Solution Approach 1:
The compression means are activated before the sealing operation to evacuate air from the tubular packaging. This preliminary compression action reduces the internal volume of the stick pack by removing trapped air, allowing the sealing to occur on a already-compressed product rather than requiring post-sealing compression
2Volume of moving object
If air is evacuated before sealing, then the stick pack volume is reduced, but the packaging process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression and sealing operations are merged into a single integrated sequence where the compression means and sealing means work in coordinated conjunction. The compression is applied continuously during the sealing process rather than as a separate preliminary step, allowing air evacuation and sealing to occur simultaneously and efficiently
3Ease of operation
If stick packs have larger volume due to trapped air, then the product capacity appears greater, but the packs are difficult to superpose during packing
Solution Approach 1:
By compressing the tubular packaging before sealing, the stick packs are pre-compressed to a compact form. This preliminary compression eliminates trapped air and creates uniformly dense packs that are easier to handle and superpose during subsequent packing operations, reducing the volume that needs to be accommodated in storage and transport
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
The compression and sealing process effectively removes air from the tubular packaging, resulting in stick packs with a consistent size and reduced volume, facilitating easier packing and increased productivity by ensuring precise positioning and minimizing impacts and blockages.
Implementation Method 1
compression means arranged downstream of the sealing means with respect to the supply direction of the continuous tubular packaging, configured such as to compress the continuous tubular packaging with a consequent evacuation of air fluid contained internally thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for sealing a continuous tubular packaging (20), which is fed in a vertical direction, the continuous tubular packaging (20) being shaped as a continuous tubular element (20) exhibiting with a closed bottom (5), in which products are contained, and a group (1) for actuating the method. The group (1) comprises: sealing means (4), configured such as to act in a transversal direction with respect to the continuous tubular packaging (20) in order to separate an inner volume thereof, such that a closed stick pack (2), containing said products, and a new closed bottom (5) are formed; and compression means (8, 9) arranged downstream of the sealing means (4) with respect to the feeding direction (W) of the continuous tubular packaging (20), which are configured such as to compress the continuous tubular packaging (20), consequently eliminating air fluid contained therein, and which are activatable prior to sealing the continuous tubular packaging (20) with the sealing means (4). The method comprises steps of: sealing the continuous tubular packaging (20) in order to separate the internal volume thereof, thus forming a closed stick pack (2), containing the products, and a new closed bottom (5); and compressing the continuous tubular packaging (20), with a consequent evacuation of air fluid contained internally thereof, before sealing the continuous tubular packaging (20).