Vertical Packaging Machine Compression for Even Light-Product Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical packaging machines face issues with uneven distribution and increased packaging volume when handling light products like herbs or vegetable leaves, leading to inefficient use of packaging materials and increased logistics costs.

Innovation Solution

A control method for vertical packaging machines that includes a tapping step, stream generating step, and pressing step to reposition and compact products within the film tube, optimizing package size and reducing material usage through a combination of mechanical and gas-induced forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If light products like herbs or vegetable leaves are placed inside the film tube, then the product can be packaged, but the product distributes unevenly and occupies larger volume resulting in larger package size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct packaging capacityVSAvoidpackage size
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through a vibration device that vibrates the film tube during the packaging process. This vibration causes light products like herbs and vegetable leaves to settle and distribute more evenly within the film tube, reducing the volume they occupy and preventing excessive package size while maintaining full packaging capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and distribution parameters of the product by applying vibrational energy. This alters how light products settle within the film tube, transforming them from an uneven, bulky distribution to a compact, evenly-distributed arrangement that optimizes package volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If light products like herbs or vegetable leaves are placed inside the film tube, then the product can be packaged, but the product distributes unevenly affecting the transversal sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct packaging capacityVSAvoidtransversal sealing quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration device vibrates the film tube before and during transversal sealing, causing light products to settle away from the sealing area. This ensures even distribution and prevents product interference with the transversal sealing process, maintaining reliable seal quality while preserving full packaging capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

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

The method enables more product to be packed into a smaller space, reducing packaging material requirements, storage volume, and transportation costs while ensuring homogeneous distribution and preventing swelling of packages.

Implementation Method 1

a stream generator step following the tapping step, in which said product is pushed in a downward direction from the inside of said film tube by a downward gas stream

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas stream flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP4603397A1Control method for a vertical packaging machine and vertical packaging machine
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 ULMA PACKAGING SCOOP
  • EP4603397A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4603397A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4603397A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a machine (100) for vertical packaging of products (P). The method comprises a compression stage comprising a tapping step in which said product (P) is tapped from the outside of said film tube (3); a stream generating step following the tapping step, in which said product (P) is pushed in a downward direction from the inside of said film tube (3) by a gas stream; and a pressing step starting after the start of the stream generating step, in which the film tube (3) is pressed from the outside in a transverse direction to a forward direction of the product (P).