Wrapping Machine Transverse Heat-Sealing Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging machines face limitations in productivity due to the need for extended idle times and slow product insertion to prevent heat seal failure and bursting, which restricts operating speed and hourly production rates.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating pressers upstream of the heat-sealing means and a movable transverse heat-sealing and cutting assembly that firmly clamps the film during heat sealing, allowing for efficient heat seal implementation and rapid pack filling while isolating stress on the heat seals, enabling faster operation and increased productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the heat seal is cooled effectively during idle times, then the heat seal strength is improved, but the operating speed decreases due to extended idle times
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-sealing assembly is pre-cooled during the idle time before product insertion begins, so that when the product is rapidly inserted, the heat seal is already at the optimal temperature for sealing without requiring extended cooling time during the operating cycle. This preliminary cooling action resolves the contradiction by preparing the heat seal in advance rather than cooling it during production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic temperature control of the heat-sealing assembly, allowing it to be rapidly heated during product insertion and rapidly cooled during idle times. This dynamic adjustment of temperature enables the system to maintain high operating speeds while still achieving proper heat seal strength through controlled thermal cycles.
2Reliability
If the product is inserted at slow speed, then the heat seal is prevented from bursting, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-sealing assembly is pre-cooled during idle time before rapid product insertion, so that even though the product is inserted quickly, the heat seal remains cool enough to prevent bursting. This preliminary cooling action allows high-speed operation without compromising heat seal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows rapid product insertion by skipping the traditional slow insertion requirement, achieving this through pre-cooling of the heat-sealing assembly. The system rushes through the product insertion phase quickly while maintaining heat seal integrity through the预先 applied cooling.
3Strength
If the transverse heat-sealing assembly remains closed, then strong heat seals are produced, but the pack cannot advance and filling speed is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse heat-sealing assembly operates with periodic opening and closing actions: closed during heat sealing to produce strong seals, then opened to allow pack advancement. This periodic cycling resolves the contradiction by alternating between the two conflicting requirements rather than maintaining a single state continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-sealing assembly transitions dynamically between closed and open states, being closed only when heat sealing is required and open during pack advancement. This dynamic state change enables the system to achieve both strong heat seals and rapid pack filling by timing the closed state with the heat sealing operation.
4Temperature
If the heat sealers are opened to allow cooling, then the heat seal can be cooled, but the heat seal strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat-sealing assembly is pre-cooled during idle time before the heat sealing operation, so that when the heat sealers are applied, the seal is formed at the correct temperature without requiring subsequent opening for cooling. This preliminary cooling eliminates the need to open heat sealers for cooling while maintaining proper heat seal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation by pre-cooling the heat-sealing assembly during idle time, allowing the heat sealing process to proceed continuously without interruption for cooling. The useful action of heat sealing continues uninterrupted because the cooling is performed in advance during non-productive idle time.
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 enables the production of stronger heat seals, allows for faster pack filling, and increases the reliability and speed of packaging machines, overcoming the limitations of prior art by maintaining stress on heat seals and allowing for efficient cooling and operation.
Implementation Method 1
the transverse heat-sealing and cutting assembly is provided with pressers at least upstream of the heat-sealing means, so as to firmly clamp the film before, during and after the step of carrying out the transverse heat seals
Implementation Method 2
the same assembly opens slightly to release the heat seals and allow action thereon of optional blower cooling means positioned on the same assembly
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
There is described a machine for packaging products in tubular wrappings of thermoplastic material obtained from continuous film unwound from a reel, equipped with a double transverse heat-sealing and intermediate cutting assembly (13) that, with a horizontal translation movement, accompanies the pack that the assembly (13) is closing the trailing end of to be unloaded while it is simultaneously closing the leading end of the tubular wrapper of the future pack that the heat-sealing and cutting assembly (13), also due to the presence thereon of pressers and counter-pressers (63, 163, 63', 163'), extracts from a tube-forming and longitudinal heat-sealing mandrel (1) and that, by the same assembly (13), is separated from the pack upstream with a transverse cut. At the end of its active movement, the transverse heat-sealing and cutting assembly (13) opens and with a horizontal movement in the opposite direction to and at a higher speed than the preceding one returns to the cycle start position, upstream of a new pack already filled and ready to be heat sealed at the trailing end and accompanied to be unloaded, repeating the cycle described. The transverse heat- sealing and cutting assembly (13) is aided by a conveyor (41) that supports and advances the packs being formed and those finished and separated, and that is equipped with a gap (40) with variable geometry, which opens during the active horizontal movement of the same assembly (13) and closes during the reverse horizontal movement of the same assembly (13).