AUTOMATED POLYBAG CLOSING DEVICE

Abstract

An automated polybag closing device comprises a rectangular housing 1 crafted with a pair of cavities 2 to insert mouth portion of a poly bag, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 3 determines insertion of mouth portion, a motorized gripper 4 by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5 to extend and position gripper 4 over mouth portion, a motorized hinge joint 6 to grip mouth portion in a secured manner, a motorized ball and socket joint 7 to provide rotation to gripper 4, a pair of telescopic rods 8 to protrude out of cavity and position an extendable plate 9, a motorized drawer arrangement to provide extension to plate 9 accommodating twisted mouth portion within plate 9, an ultrasonic sensor to monitor thickness of polybag and a leakage sensor to monitor leakage from the polybag.

Specification

Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an automated polybag closing device that is capable of sealing the polybags in an automated manner in accordance to the dimension of the polybag as well as detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Polybag sealing tools are essential tools used in packaging operations to seal various types of plastic bags securely. These devices play a crucial role in preserving the contents of the bags, protecting them from contamination, moisture, and tampering. Early sealing methods involved manual techniques like knotting or folding, which were time-consuming and prone to errors. As technology advanced, mechanical and electronic sealing devices were developed to automate and streamline the sealing process, leading to increased productivity and consistency. Traditionally impulse sealers are used heat to create a seal by applying pressure to the bag's opening. Impulse sealers are suitable for sealing polyethylene and polypropylene bags and are available in handheld, table top, and floor-standing models.

[0003] Although the traditional method of sealing polybag using impulse sealers has proven effective to some extent, but it comes with inherent limitations. They may be limited in their compatibility with certain types of packaging materials. For example, devices designed for sealing polyethylene may not be suitable for sealing other types of plastics or laminates, restricting their versatility. Thus, there is a need to develop an innovative tool that provide a consistent way of sealing polybag where traditional methods may fall short and to meet the evolving demands of modern requirements.

[0004] CN204056433U discloses the utility model relates to a kind of poly-bag capper and closing device, and closing device comprises erecting frame and is set up in the bench board on erecting frame, bench board is provided with the bottom plate of encapsulation cooperation and upper pressing plate, bottom plate is provided with sealing electro-heat equipment. Be positioned between bottom plate and upper pressing plate during poly-bag work, by the heating of sealing electro-heat equipment, poly-bag sealed. Erecting frame is provided with the pusher affixed with upper pressing plate, bench board is provided with the induction installation whether by detecting to poly-bag, also comprises and being connected with induction installation, and after it senses poly-bag, controlling the control setup of pusher work. Induction installation is connected with control setup, when poly-bag is by after induction installation, signal is sent to control setup by induction installation, automatically pusher action is controlled by control setup, thus realize the sealing action driving upper pressing plate and bottom plate, realize the automatic sealing to poly-bag, improve the convenience of capper work.

[0005] CN113635610A discloses a plastic bag sealing device which comprises a power assembly, a back plate and a sealing device, wherein the power assembly comprises a hydraulic telescopic arm and the back plate, and the back plate is arranged at one end of the hydraulic telescopic arm; the transmission assembly is arranged at one end of the power assembly, comprises limiting plates arranged at two sides of the center of the back plate, and further comprises a spring arranged in the middle of the limiting plates; the connecting rod assembly is arranged in the transmission assembly, comprises a first connecting shaft and a connecting rod, is arranged at one end of the spring, and is connected with the first connecting shaft; and the sealing assembly is arranged at one end of the transmission assembly, comprises a first sealing piece and is arranged at one end of the limiting plate, and further comprises a second sealing piece and is arranged at the bottom of the first sealing piece. The plastic bag sealing device can directly finish the sealing action and the cutting action of the plastic bag through the matching of the power assembly, the transmission assembly, the connecting rod assembly and the sealing assembly, does not need an additional structure, is convenient and quick, and saves energy and time.

[0006] Conventionally, many devices exist that are capable of sealing polythene bags, however these devices fail in detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures without requiring any physical efforts from user securely.

[0007] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there exists a need in the art to develop a device that is capable of detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures. The device be potent enough of sealing the polybags in an automatic manner in accordance to the dimension of the polybag.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of sealing the polybags in an automated manner in accordance to the dimension of the polybag.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is capable of detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to develop a device that is portable and reliable to nature.

[0012] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention relates to an automated polybag closing device that is capable of sealing the polybags in an automated manner in accordance to the dimension of the polybag as well as detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an automated polybag closing device, comprises of a rectangular housing crafted with a pair of cavities that is accessed by a user to insert mouth portion of a poly bag that is to be closed, wherein an artificial intelligence based imaging unit installed over the housing and integrated with a processor for capturing and processing images of cavities, based on which, a microcontroller linked with the processor, determines insertion of the mouth portion within the cavities, a motorized gripper configured with the housing by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar to extend and position the gripper over the mouth portion, wherein upon positioning of the gripper, the microcontroller actuates a motorized hinge joint installed in the gripper to grip the mouth portion in a secured manner, a motorized ball and socket joint installed between the bar and gripper to provide rotation to the gripper on axis in view of twisting the gripped mouth portion to close the mouth portion, wherein upon twisting of the mouth portion, the microcontroller actuates a pair of telescopic rods installed within the housing to extend towards each other in order to protrude out of the cavity and position an extendable plate configured with each of the rod in contact with the twisted mouth portion.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the proposed device further comprises of a motorized drawer arrangement installed in each of the plate and actuated by the microcontroller to provide extension to the plate in view of accommodating the twisted mouth portion within the plates, wherein an electromagnet is installed with each of the plates to attach the plates with each other, thereby locking the mouth portion within the plates, an ultrasonic sensor is installed over the housing to monitor thickness of the polybag based on which the microcontroller evaluates appropriate pressure to be applied over the polybag for gripping and accordingly actuates the rods to apply the evaluated pressure over the mouth portion, a leakage sensor is installed over the housing and synced with the imaging unit to monitor leakage from the polybag, and in case of detection of the leakage, a speaker installed over the housing to produce a voice command to notify the user regrading the detected leakage, a battery is associated with the device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with the device.

[0016] While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an automated polybag closing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0019] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising," "comprises," and the like (which are synonymous with "including," "having" and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of," consists essentially of," and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of," "consists of, the like.

[0020] As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.

[0021] The present invention relates to an automated polybag closing device that is capable of sealing the polybags in an automated manner in accordance to the dimension of the polybag as well as detecting the moisture in the polybag and accordingly applying the prevention measures securely.

[0022] Referring to Figure 1, a perspective view of an automated polybag closing device is illustrated, comprising a rectangular housing 1 crafted with a pair of cavities 2, an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 3 installed over the housing 1, a motorized gripper 4 configured with the housing 1 by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5, a motorized hinge joint 6 installed in the gripper 4, a motorized ball and socket joint 7 installed between the bar 5 and gripper 4, actuates a pair of telescopic rods 8 installed within the housing 1, an extendable plate 9 configured with each of the rod 8, an electromagnet 10 is installed with each of the plates 9 and a speaker 11 installed over the housing 1.

[0023] The proposed device includes a rectangular housing 1 crafted with a pair of cavities 2 that is accessed by a user to insert mouth portion of a poly bag that is to be closed. An artificial intelligence based imaging unit 3 installed over the housing 1 determines insertion of the mouth portion within the cavities 2. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 3 is constructed with a camera lens and a processor, wherein the camera lens is adapted to capture a series of images of the cavities 2. The processor carries out a sequence of image processing operations including pre-processing, feature extraction, and classification. The image captured by the imaging unit 3 is real-time images of the cavities 2. The artificial intelligence-based imaging unit 3 transmits the captured image signal in the form of digital bits to the microcontroller. The microcontroller upon receiving the signal analyzes and detects the insertion of the mouth portion within the cavities 2.

[0024] Herein, a motorized gripper 4 configured with the housing 1 by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5 to extend and position the gripper 4 over the mouth portion. The motorized gripper 4 operates as a robotic hand that is designed to grip the mouth portion effectively. The gripper 4 typically incorporates a motorized mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the jaws of the gripper 4. The motor generates the necessary force to move the gripper 4 fingers for the opening and closing of the jaws with precision. This motorized action is often controlled by the microcontroller for the smooth and precise gripping the mouth portion of the polybag.

[0025] The inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5 used herein is powered by a pneumatic unit that comprises an air compressor, air cylinders, air valves and piston which works in collaboration to aid in extension and retraction of the bar 5. The piston is coupled to the telescopic bar 5 penetrating the compressed air released from the compressor over the telescopic bar 5. The valves used herein, are air valves installed between the compressor and piston that upon actuation enables release of the compressed air through the piston that leads to extension/retraction of the telescopic bar 5 and enables for positioning the gripper 4 over the mouth portion.

[0026] Upon positioning of the gripper 4, the microcontroller actuates a motorized hinge joint 6 installed in the gripper 4 to grip the mouth portion in a secured manner. The motorized joint is the piece of metal that join the different portion of the gripper 4 and are powered by a DC motor. The DC motor is capable of converting direct current into mechanical work by following the principle of Lorentz Law which states that, the current carrying conduction when placed in magnetic or electrical field experiences a force known as Lorentz force. Therefore, the DC motor is capable of performing rotational movements and allowing the joints to move accordingly.

[0027] Further, a motorized ball and socket joint 7 installed between the bar 5 and gripper 4 provide rotation to the gripper 4 on axis in view of twisting the gripped mouth portion to close the mouth portion. The motorized ball and socket joint 7 used herein is powered by the DC motor for the movements to provide rotation to the gripper 4. Upon twisting the mouth portion, the microcontroller actuates a pair of telescopic rods 8 installed within the housing 1 to extend towards each other in order to protrude out of the cavity and position an extendable plate 9 configured with each of the rod in contact with the twisted mouth portion. The telescopic rods 8 used herein is powered by the pneumatic unit to extend towards each other.

[0028] Herein, the plate 9 are extended by using a motorized drawer arrangement installed in each of the plate 9 accommodating the twisted mouth portion within the plate 9. The drawer arrangement comprises of a carriage assembly and a DC (direct current) motor that works in collaboration to extend and retract the plate 9. The carriage assembly fitted with two rails that are used for sliding the plate 9 up and down. The block opening located at the end of the rail and have two clips that are used to secure the plate 9 with the housing 1. To extend the drawer, the drawer is pushed to open and the carriage assembly slide outward. This creates an opening to allow extension and retraction of the arrangement to provide translation to the plate 9.

[0029] Herein, an ultrasonic sensor is installed over the housing 1 to monitor thickness of the polybag. The ultrasonic sensor consists of a transducer that functions as both a transmitter and a receiver that works in collaboration to detect the thickness of the polybag. The transducer typically contains a piezoelectric crystal or a similar material. When an electrical signal is applied to the crystal, it vibrates at a high frequency, typically in the ultrasonic range above 20 kHz. When the transducer is activated, it converts the electrical energy into mechanical vibrations or waves. These vibrations are transmitted as a focused beam of ultrasonic waves in the polybag. The ultrasonic waves propagate outward in a cone-shaped pattern from the transducer.

[0030] The same transducer that emitted the ultrasonic waves now acts as a receiver. It detects the reflected after hitting the polybag's surface and converts them back into electrical signals. The sensor measures the time it takes for the ultrasonic waves to travel from the sensor to the polybag's surface. The ultrasonic sensor now starts a timer when the waves are emitted and stops it when the reflected waves are detected. The elapsed time is known as the "time of flight" (TOF). Using the known speed of sound in the medium through which the waves are travelling, the thickness of the polybag is detected. Based on the detected thickness of the polybag the microcontroller evaluates appropriate pressure to be applied over the polybag for gripping accordingly actuates the rods 8 to apply the evaluated pressure over the mouth portion.

[0031] Further, an electromagnet 10 is installed with each of the plate 9 to attach the plate 9 with each other, thereby locking the mouth portion within the plate 9. The electromagnet 10 comprises of a conducting coil, when the electric current is passed across the coil that result in generation of the magnetic field around the coil and that results in the generation of the magnetic force due to which the electromagnet 10 gets energized. When the current release, the electromagnet 10 gets de-energized. The energization and de-energization of the electromagnet 10 lock the mouth portion of the polybag.

[0032] As the polybags are locked, a leakage sensor is installed over the housing 1 and synced with the imaging unit 3 to monitor leakage from the polybag. The working principle of the leakage sensor involves detecting and measuring the presence of any unwanted liquid escaped in the housing 1. The typically achieved through the use of various sensors and detectors that sense changes in pressure, temperature, or chemical composition, alerting users to potential leaks from the polybag. Based on detection, the microcontroller actuates a speaker 11 installed over the housing 1 to produce a voice command to notify the user regarding the detected leakage.

[0033] The speaker 11 works by converting electrical energy into sound energy. When the electric current is sent by the microcontroller, then a coil configured on a magnet of the speaker 11 induces a magnetic field. This makes a diaphragm moves back and forth which creates pressure waves in the air that the user perceives as a sound of the leakage from the polybag in the housing 1.

[0034] Lastly, a battery is associated with the device that powers all electrical and electronically operated components of the device. A battery is a device that converts chemical energy contained within its active materials directly into electric energy by means of an electrochemical oxidation and provides the power supply to other components.

[0035] The present invention works best in the following manner, where the rectangular housing 1 crafted with the pair of cavities 2 that is accessed by a user to insert mouth portion of the poly bag that is to be closed. The artificial intelligence based imaging unit 3 determines insertion of the mouth portion within the cavities 2. The motorized gripper 4 by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5 is actuated by the microcontroller to extend and position the gripper 4 over the mouth portion. The microcontroller actuates the motorized hinge joint 6 to grip the mouth portion in the secured manner. The motorized ball and socket joint 7 is actuated by the microcontroller to provide rotation to the gripper 4 on axis for twisting the gripped mouth portion to close the mouth portion. The pair of telescopic protrude out of the cavity and position the extendable plate 9. The motorized drawer arrangement provide extension to the plate 9 for accommodating the twisted mouth portion within the plate 9. The electromagnet 10 attach the plate 9 with each other, thereby locking the mouth portion within the plate 9. Additionally, the ultrasonic sensor monitor thickness of the polybag. The microcontroller evaluates appropriate pressure to be applied over the polybag for gripping and accordingly actuates the rods 8 to apply the evaluated pressure over the mouth portion. The leakage sensor monitor leakage from the polybag, and in case of detection of the leakage the microcontroller actuates the speaker 11 that produce the voice command to notify the user regarding the detected leakage.

[0036] Although the field of the invention has been described herein with limited reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention.
, Claims:We Claim:
1) An automated polybag closing device, comprising:

i) a rectangular housing 1 crafted with a pair of cavities 2 that is accessed by a user to insert mouth portion of a poly bag that is to be closed, wherein an artificial intelligence based imaging unit 3 installed over said housing 1 and integrated with a processor for capturing and processing images of cavities 2, based on which, a microcontroller linked with said processor, determines insertion of said mouth portion within said cavities 2;
ii) a motorized gripper 4 configured with said housing 1 by means of an inverted L-shaped telescopic bar 5 that is actuated by said microcontroller to extend and position said gripper 4 over said mouth portion, wherein upon positioning of said gripper 4, said microcontroller actuates a motorized hinge joint 6 installed in said gripper 4 to grip said mouth portion in a secured manner;
iii) a motorized ball and socket joint 7 installed between said bar 5 and gripper 4 that is actuated by said microcontroller to provide rotation to said gripper 4 on axis in view of twisting said gripped mouth portion to close said mouth portion, wherein upon twisting of said mouth portion, said microcontroller actuates a pair of telescopic rods 8 installed within said housing 1 to extend towards each other in order to protrude out of said cavity and position an extendable plate 9 configured with each of said rod in contact with said twisted mouth portion; and
iv) a motorized drawer arrangement installed in each of said plate 9 and actuated by said microcontroller to provide extension to said plate 9 in view of accommodating said twisted mouth portion within said plate 9, wherein an electromagnet 10 is installed with each of said plate 9 that are actuated by said microcontroller to attach said plate 9 with each other, thereby locking said mouth portion within said plate 9.

2) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ultrasonic sensor is installed over said housing 1 to monitor thickness of said polybag based on which said microcontroller evaluates appropriate pressure to be applied over said polybag for gripping and accordingly actuates said rods 8 to apply said evaluated pressure over said mouth portion.

3) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a leakage sensor is installed over said housing 1 and synced with said imaging unit 3 to monitor leakage from said polybag, and in case of detection of said leakage said microcontroller actuates a speaker 11 installed over said housing 1 to produce a voice command to notify said user regrading said detected leakage.

4) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telescopic bar 5 and rods 8 are linked to a pneumatic unit, including an air compressor, air cylinders, air valves and piston which works in collaboration to aid in extension and retraction of said bar 5 and rods 8.

5) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a battery is associated with said device for powering up electrical and electronically operated components associated with said device.

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