Valve Bag Filling Spout With Expansion Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing valve bag filling machines face challenges in reliably and reproducibly closing valve bags, especially with lightweight materials, due to instability and contamination issues, and require complex and costly instrumentation.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a supporting construction and a filling spout that includes a bag holder and an expansion device to expand the valve bag's valve before closing, ensuring a defined position and using a closing device like an ultrasonic welder for a secure seam, reducing instrumentation complexity and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hot air blower is used to close the valve, then the valve can be sealed, but filled bulk materials are whipped up causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve closing reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic hot air blower system with a mechanical expansion finger system. The expansion fingers mechanically expand the valve from the inside to close it, eliminating the need for hot air that causes material contamination. This substitution of mechanical action for pneumatic action resolves the contradiction between reliable valve closing and material contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If expansion fingers are inserted into the valve to expand it, then the valve can be closed, but the expansion fingers can be easily contaminated and must be removed quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve closing reliabilityVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses multiple expansion fingers that can be easily replaced if contaminated. Instead of maintaining a single complex component, the system uses simple, interchangeable fingers that can be quickly swapped out. This copying approach allows for easy maintenance and replacement, resolving the contradiction between reliable valve closing and maintenance complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If clamping jaw fingers are used to expand the valve from the rear, then the valve can be closed, but the filling nozzle must be very long causing statical problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve closing reliabilityVSAvoidnozzle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the approach by having expansion fingers enter the valve from the front (inside the valve opening) rather than from the rear. This reversal eliminates the need for a long filling nozzle structure, as the expansion action occurs at the valve opening itself. The inversion of the expansion direction resolves the contradiction between reliable valve closing and nozzle structure complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Productivity

If the console is tilted to discharge the valve bag, then the valve bag can be discharged, but coordinated component movements become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebag discharge efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the valve holding function and the discharge function into a single integrated bag holder assembly. The bag holder holds the valve bag during filling and then tilts to discharge it, eliminating the need for separate coordinated movements between multiple components. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction between discharge efficiency and coordination control complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 reliable, reproducible, and automatic closing of valve bags, even with wide or limp valves, meeting high standards of quality and cleanliness while minimizing equipment wear and maintenance costs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one expansion device (8) to expand the valve (4) of the valve bag (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

using a closing device like an ultrasonic welder for a secure seam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic Welding: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9114898B2Apparatus and method for filling valve bags with dry bulk materials

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 HAVER & BOECKER OHG

AI summary

Apparatus and method for filling valve bags with dry bulk goods including a supporting construction and a filling spout extending laterally from the supporting construction for filling a valve bag provided with a bag body and a valve. A bag holder for guiding the valve bag is provided. For filling, the valve bag is placed onto the filling spout by its valve, hanging from the filling spout during the filling process. The bag holder is displaceable during the filling process from a filling position to a closing position after discharge. An expansion device is provided at the bag holder to expand the valve of the valve bag prior to closing. The bag holder is attached to the supporting construction. During the filling process the expansion device is at least partially inserted into the valve of the valve bag hanging from the filling spout.