Vacuum Packaging Chutes for Snus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Machine handling of snus during packaging is challenging due to its tackiness and pillow shape, leading to difficulties in filling and removing products from containers, especially in small boxes, which results in the need for 'head room' that creates an impression of partial filling and complicates easy removal.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed packaging apparatus and method using chutes with non-stick coatings, vacuum heads, and plungers to transfer loose products into boxes without the need for head room, ensuring complete and uniform filling by aligning boxes with chutes and using air agitation to prevent product bridging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If head room is provided in the box, then product removal is facilitated, but the box appears partially filled and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing head room to facilitate removal (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using vacuum suction to actively pull product out of the box. The vacuum head creates negative pressure that draws product through the opening, eliminating the need for head room while still enabling easy removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs vacuum technology (pneumatics) to solve the product removal problem. A vacuum head with openings applies negative pressure to suction product out of the box, replacing the mechanical approach of requiring head room for manual removal.
2Reliability
If head room is provided in the box, then product is not caught in sealing, but the box appears partially filled
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than creating head room to prevent sealing issues (conventional approach), the patent inverts by using vacuum suction to actively remove product through the sealed box structure. The vacuum head applies pressure differentials that facilitate removal without compromising sealing or requiring head space.
3Ease of operation
If vacuum is applied to remove product, then product removal is facilitated, but loose product may be suctioned into the vacuum head
Solution Approach 1:
The vacuum head incorporates screens with openings of specific sizes that are locally optimized for the application. These screens allow air and loose product to pass through while blocking larger product pieces, creating a localized filtration function at the vacuum interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum head uses screens (porous materials) with controlled opening sizes to differentiate between air/loose product and larger product pieces. The porous structure allows selective passage based on size, preventing product loss while maintaining vacuum functionality.
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 allows for efficient, complete, and uniform loading of snus into boxes, eliminating the need for head space, facilitating easy product removal and enabling smaller container sizes with significant savings in packaging materials and space.
Implementation Method 1
The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path.
Implementation Method 2
communicating vacuum through the second open side of each box so as to pull loose product from the chute and into the box
Implementation Method 3
An inner surface of the chute includes a non-stick coating
Implementation Method 4
The vacuum head includes a screen having openings sized to substantially prevent suction of loose products into the vacuum head
Implementation Method 5
a plunger in communication with the open upstream end of the chute. Loose product is transferred from the chute through the open downstream end and to the box at the unloading station.
Implementation Method 6
the lid includes at least one air inlet operable to deliver air from a pressurized air source to each chute so as to agitate any remaining loose product contained in the chute and urge the loose product from the chute
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.