Tape Sealer Push Element for Irregular Object Wrapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tape sealers struggle to efficiently wind adhesive tape around objects at high speeds and with irregular outer diameters, often resulting in unpredictable tape movement and failure to secure subsequent bags.
Innovation Solution
A tape sealer design featuring a housing with a passage for object transport, a tape supply, a clamping element, and a push element that moves between positions to press adhesive tape portions together, ensuring consistent tape placement and secure wrapping around objects, even with unknown dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed bag closing is implemented (3600 bags per hour or more), then productivity increases, but the free end of the tape moves unpredictably relative to the gripper causing missed catches and machine failure
Solution Approach 1:
A push element acts as an intermediary between the object and the tape. As the object moves through the passage, the push element pushes the object against the adhesive side of the tape, thereby positioning the tape accurately relative to the object without requiring direct gripper-tape interaction at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The tape positions itself relative to the object through the push element mechanism. The object's own movement through the passage, combined with the push element's action, automatically achieves accurate tape positioning without external intervention or complex control systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If adhesive tape is used to wind around objects with irregular outer diameters, then versatility is improved, but maintaining consistent tape alignment and preventing end portion movement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tape positioning function is segmented into distinct zones: the push element handles positioning on one side of the plane, while the clamping element and support handle the end portion on the opposite side. This segmentation allows each element to focus on a specific task, maintaining precision despite object irregularities
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces a dimensional separation by placing the push element on one side of the passage plane and the clamping element with support on the opposite side. This spatial arrangement in opposite dimensions allows independent control of tape positioning and end portion securing
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 reliable and high-speed winding of adhesive tape around objects, including irregularly shaped items like bouquets, by maintaining tape alignment and preventing end portion movement, ensuring continuous operation without pausing for tape reel changes.
Implementation Method 1
a tape supply, arranged at the first side of the plane and adapted for supplying tape with an adhesive side thereof facing the transport direction
Implementation Method 2
a push element with a contact surface, adapted for moving between a first position in which the contact surface is located on the first side of the plane and a second position in which the contact surface is located on the second side of the plane and arranged for pressing the adhesive side of the first portion of the tape against an adhesive side of a second portion of the tape
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A method and tape sealer (10) for winding adhesive tape around an object (16) such that two adhesive portions of the tape contact each other. The tape sealer comprises: a housing (12) with a passage (14) for passing the object there through in a transport direction parallel to a plane having a first side (21) and an opposite second side (22); a tape supply (43) at the first side of the plane and adapted for supplying tape (26) with its adhesive side (28) facing the transport direction; a support (38) and a clamping element (40) at the second side of the plane and adapted for clamping therebetween a first portion of the tape supplied by the tape supply, wherein the clamping element is moveable towards and away from the support; and a push element (36) with a contact surface (48), moveable between a first position in which the contact surface is located on the first side and a second position in which the contact surface is located on the second side, wherein in the second position the contact surface protrudes between the clamping element and the support for pressing the adhesive side of the first portion of the tape against an adhesive side of a second portion of the tape.