Embedded microcontroller-based sealing synchronization scheme for continuous automatic F/F/S packaging machines

It has been proved through the study of continuous automatic Form/Fill/Seal packaging machine that the final outlook quality of the package pouch is largely depended on the precise coordination between vertical seal drawing movement and horizontal non-constant speed rotation movement, i.e. to ensure the vertical seal drawing speed is the same with the linear speed of the horizontal seal rotation at the moment of the sealing operation. Currently the mechanical non-constant speed transmission is still the mainstream device to implement this coordination. In this paper we investigate the problems existed in such systems and propose a new embedded microcontroller-based sealing control to coordinate the working between vertical and horizontal sealing systems. We discuss the physical design and mathematical model to show how it can simplify the current mechanical transmission systems and improve the stability and reliability of the packaging machine. New embedded microcontroller-based sealing synchronization control also can ensure the accurate seal and cut position and satisfy the requirement of high-speed packaging to greatly improve the quality and also productivity of the production as what has been testified in some industrial applications. It also has the ability to automatically adjust the horizontal sealing cycle according to the pouch size.