Welding Device Pivoting Ribs for Film Sealing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing welding devices for packaging films and cuttings are limited in handling larger quantities, leading to uneven welding and incomplete sealing, requiring additional packaging material and limiting the size of packages that can be produced.

Innovation Solution

The welding device features strips with axes of rotation spaced above the base surface, allowing them to pivot obliquely and securely clamp the cover film, ensuring complete welding of thicker cuttings, along with contact elements for improved friction and a continuous heating element for uniform sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the axis of rotation of the strips is placed immediately adjacent to the base surface, then the device structure is simple and compact, but the strips cannot securely clamp the cover film when there is a large amount of cuttings, leading to uneven welding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding qualityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The axis of rotation is elevated from the base surface level to a higher position, creating a vertical dimension offset. This dimensional change allows the strips to approach the cover film from a different spatial angle, enabling them to effectively clamp and spread the film even when there is a large amount of cuttings present, thereby ensuring reliable welding without complicating the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the amount of cuttings per package is limited to avoid central bulge, then welding quality is maintained, but more packaging material is required in total for larger quantities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding uniformityVSAvoidpackaging material
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The strips perform a preliminary spreading action on the cover film before the welding process begins. By elevating the axis of rotation, the strips can first distribute and flatten the cover film over the cuttings, preventing central bulge formation even with larger quantities. This preliminary action enables larger package sizes while maintaining welding uniformity, reducing the need for additional packaging material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the strips pivot to horizontal position, then they can access the cover film, but they move the film towards the center instead of clamping it at the edge, preventing proper welding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilm accessVSAvoidwelding completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By elevating the axis of rotation vertically above the base surface, the strips gain a vertical dimension advantage. This allows them to approach the cover film from above and clamp it at the edge region rather than pushing it toward the center. The elevated position enables the strips to effectively spread and secure the film over the heating element, ensuring complete and reliable welding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the strips are designed to pivot by more than 180°, then filling from above is enabled and film catching is prevented, but the device height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling capabilityVSAvoiddevice height
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The elevated axis of rotation creates vertical space that accommodates the >180° pivoting motion of the strips. This vertical dimension arrangement allows the strips to swing through a wide arc for easy filling from above and prevent film catching, while the overall device height remains controlled by optimizing the elevation distance of the axis from the base surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 secure and continuous welding of larger quantities of cuttings, reducing packaging material usage and ensuring packages are suitable for shipping without additional overpackaging.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element (2) and strips (3) that can be folded around their longitudinal axis and which are between a starting position in which the base surface 1 is freely accessible from above, and can be pivoted to a working position in which the strips cover the heating element (2) with their end sections (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3730279B1Welding device and method for welding at least two overlapping sheets
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 S A M INNOVATIONS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3730279B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3730279B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3730279B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a welding device for welding at least two overlapping films, in particular designed as a tray for a slicing machine, comprising a base surface (1) designed as a tray for the films, a heating element (2), and ribs (3) that are hinged about their longitudinal axis and pivotable between a starting position in which the base surface (1) is freely accessible from above and a working position in which the ribs (3) with their end sections (4) cover the heating element (2). The axes of rotation (5) of the ribs (3) are spaced at a constant perpendicular distance upwards from the base surface (1), so that the ribs (3) are inclined obliquely to the base surface (1) in the working position. The invention further relates to a method for carrying out a welding process using the aforementioned welding device.