Suction Device Oblique Motion for Sack Bottom Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sack manufacturing plants face challenges with intermittent operation, high demands on drives, and limited throughput due to inefficient bottom opening mechanisms, particularly for wide bases where uneven opening movements cause material twisting, leading to difficulties in inserting spreading tools.

Innovation Solution

A bottom opening device with suction devices that can move in an oblique direction, articulated on pivot arms and a carrier carriage, allowing precise control and adjustment of suction points relative to the bag body's centerline, ensuring uniform separation and preventing twisting, while being robust, simple, and cost-effective.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a simple swivel arm mechanism is used for opening the tubular sack body, then the device complexity is reduced, but the opening movement becomes uneven causing material twisting for wide bases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening mechanism complexityVSAvoidopening uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The suction devices are mounted on a movable carrier carriage that can be positioned at different locations along the guide rail, allowing the opening mechanism to adapt dynamically to different base widths. This dynamic positioning enables uniform opening movement across varying sack dimensions while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The opening mechanism is segmented into independent components: the carrier carriage, the guide rail, and the suction devices. This segmentation allows the carrier carriage to move independently along the guide rail, providing precise control over the opening process without requiring a complex integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If intermittent operation is used for bottom opening, then the drives are simpler, but the throughput of sack bodies is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive system complexityVSAvoidsack body throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier carriage can move continuously along the guide rail, enabling continuous operation of the bottom opening process. This continuous movement allows multiple sack bodies to be processed in sequence without interruption, significantly increasing throughput while maintaining relatively simple drive system requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If suction devices are fixed in position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptation to different base widths is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning system complexityVSAvoidbase width adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier carriage providing movable mounting for suction devices enables dynamic positioning adjustment along the guide rail. This allows the same device to adapt to different base widths by simply repositioning the carrier carriage, achieving high versatility without complex positioning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If linear opening movement is implemented, then the separation uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to rotational movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation uniformityVSAvoidmovement mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The linear opening movement is achieved through segmented, independent components: the guide rail provides the track, the carrier carriage provides the moving platform, and the suction devices perform the separation function. This segmentation achieves uniform linear movement without requiring a complex integrated mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier carriage acts as an intermediary between the guide rail and the suction devices, enabling linear movement while keeping the overall mechanism simple. This intermediary component translates the guiding function into uniform linear motion for precise separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 continuous operation with high production rates, precise opening of sack bottoms of varying widths, and reliable transfer to subsequent processing stations without material distortion, improving handling of sacks made from stretched plastic tapes or films.

Implementation Method 1

suction devices which can be moved towards one another until they rest against the tube walls of the end region of the bag body located between them and can then be moved away from one another while exerting a suction force on the respective tube wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2711164B1Apparatus and method for opening an end area of a tubular sack body
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 STARLINGER & CO GESELLSCHAFT MBH
  • EP2711164B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2711164B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP2711164B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A device (1) for opening an end region (10e) of a tubular bag body (10), extending between an open end (10k) of the tube body and a base centerline (10j), comprises a transport device (2) on which the bag body (10) with adjacent tube walls (10a, 10b) is transported at a transport speed (V) in a transport direction (T), the base centerline (10j) being aligned in the transport direction (T). Furthermore, suction devices (13, 14) movable back and forth transversely to the transport direction (T) are provided, which can be moved towards each other until they bear against the tube walls (10a, 10b) of the end region (10e) of the bag body (10) located between them, and can then be moved away from each other by exerting a suction force on the respective tube wall, thereby pulling the tube walls apart.The suction devices (13, 14) are additionally movable back and forth in an inclined direction (S), which is aligned on the one hand in the transport direction (T) and on the other hand at an angle (α) to the floor centerline (10j).