Cardboard Cigarette Filter Presectioning Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cardboard filters for rolling cigarettes face issues with pre-cuts that are difficult to control, leading to unwinding and inconsistent folding, which affects the diameter and functionality of the filter.

Innovation Solution

Cardboard filters with presectioning lines that extend only over part of the thickness, allowing for easy rolling and maintenance, using a tool that cuts the fibers partially to facilitate clean and easy folding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pre-cuts extend through the entire thickness of the cardboard strip, then folding is facilitated, but the cardboard loses structural integrity and unrolls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding easeVSAvoidroll stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-cut lines are segmented to extend only partially through the cardboard thickness (from one face to a depth of 0.5-2mm), rather than completely through. This segmentation allows the cut to provide folding guidance while leaving sufficient uncut material to maintain roll stability and prevent unrolling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting depth varies locally across the cardboard thickness. The pre-cuts penetrate deeply enough to create visible guidance lines and facilitate folding, but stop before compromising the overall structural integrity of the roll. This local differentiation of cut depth optimizes both folding ease and roll stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If pre-cuts are made too deep, then folding becomes easier, but the filter geometry becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding easeVSAvoidfilter geometry consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-cuts are prepared in advance at a controlled depth during manufacturing, creating guidance lines that facilitate subsequent folding operations. This preliminary action ensures consistent folding geometry without requiring excessive cut depth, thereby maintaining filter geometry consistency across production batches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If pre-cuts are not deep enough, then roll stability is maintained, but folding becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroll stabilityVSAvoidfolding ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical cutting process is replaced or supplemented with thermal or laser cutting methods that can precisely control cut depth. This substitution allows for extremely precise control of pre-cut depth, creating sufficient guidance for folding while maintaining roll stability through consistent, controlled penetration depth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3308659B1Card filter for cigarettes, filter blank, cigarettes and method for producing a filter
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 REPUBLIC TECHNOLOGIES (NA) LLC
  • EP3308659B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3308659B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3308659B1 patent drawingFigure 9~12

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cardboard cigarette filter formed by winding a strip of cardboard (100), characterized in that said strip of cardboard (100) comprises several pre-cut lines (110) which extend over the width of the strip but only over a part of its thickness.