Vacuum Slider Feeding for Accurate Cigarette Pack Insert Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for feeding components into a packaging blank often result in the coupon being positioned incorrectly, specifically too far back and bending into an L-shape, due to improper alignment during the insertion process.
Innovation Solution
The use of a slide with a vacuum mechanism to hold the package contents and/or other items, ensuring they are fixed until reaching the intended position, followed by releasing the vacuum to allow precise placement and assembly in the packaging blank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a common slide is used to feed multiple components together into the packaging blank, then the components are brought together efficiently, but the components (especially the coupon) cannot be positioned accurately and end up too far back in the pocket
Solution Approach 1:
The common slide is divided into separate transport lanes for different components (package contents, coupon, collar), allowing each component to be transported independently to its correct position while still being fed simultaneously into the packaging blank
Solution Approach 2:
Suction means are introduced as an intermediary mechanism to hold components on the slide during transport, preventing them from shifting or moving too far back, and releasing them at the precise moment they reach the correct position in the packaging blank
2Device complexity
If components are fed together by a slide without holding mechanism, then the feeding process is simple, but the components slip and bend into incorrect shapes (L-shape)
Solution Approach 1:
Suction bores connected to a vacuum source are used to hold components against the slide during transport, preventing slippage and bending, and are deactivated when components reach their destination to allow clean release
Solution Approach 2:
The suction mechanism is dynamically controlled - activated during transport to prevent slippage, and deactivated at the precise moment components reach their correct position, allowing the system to adapt to different phases of the feeding process
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
Ensures accurate positioning of components within the packaging blank, preventing bending and slippage, and allowing for seamless assembly without direct contact during the feeding process.
Implementation Method 1
the slide has at least one means for exerting a vacuum on the package contents and/or the at least one other object, and that the package contents and/or the at least one other object are held on the slide by means of a vacuum when being fed to the blank for the package
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for feeding a group of products of the cigarette industry as pack contents (19) to a blank (20) for a pack (10) for products of the cigarette industry, wherein the blank (20) for the pack (10) is kept ready preferably partially folded, for receiving the pack contents (19), and the pack contents (19), together with at least one other (separate) article, in particular a print substrate (14) and/or a further component, in particular a blank (27), for the pack (10) is fed to the blank (20) for the pack (10) by means of a preferably common slider (31). According to the invention, the slider (31) has at least one means for applying a negative pressure to the pack contents (19) and/or the at least one other article, and the pack contents (19) and/or the at least one other article is/are held in place on the slider (31) by means of negative pressure while being fed to the blank (20) for the pack (10).