Cardboard Hood Packaging for Insertion Envelopes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging solutions for insertion envelopes are inefficient, leading to alignment issues, damage, and increased costs due to manual handling and the use of plastic materials, which are not environmentally friendly and pose risks during transportation and storage.

Innovation Solution

A cardboard hood unit surrounds the insertion envelopes on the underside, upper side, and end sides, with pressure-resistant panel members and a tear-open flap, made from recyclable materials, allowing for easy handling and disposal while providing protection and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cardboard boxes are used to pack insertion envelopes, then envelopes can be protected and transported, but the boxes occupy large space and are difficult to handle when empty

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of envelopesVSAvoidspace occupied by empty boxes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is divided into a base unit and removable hood units. The hood units can be detached and disposed of separately, leaving only the compact base unit. This segmentation allows the packaging to maintain protection functionality while reducing the volume of empty packaging material that needs to be stored and handled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hood units are extracted as separate, removable components from the base packaging structure. After envelopes are removed from the packaging, the hood units can be taken off and disposed of separately, leaving a compact base unit. This extraction principle reduces the volume of empty packaging that occupies storage space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If operators manually grip and remove envelopes from cardboard boxes, then envelopes can be transferred to the feed mechanism, but handling time increases and risk of bending envelopes arises

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvelope transfer processVSAvoidhandling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging design enables dynamic, efficient envelope removal through the tear-open flap mechanism. The flap can be quickly torn open and the hood unit removed, allowing envelopes to be accessed and transferred more dynamically and efficiently than from traditional rigid cardboard boxes, reducing static handling time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hood unit is pre-configured with a tear-open flap that allows quick access to envelopes. This preliminary design feature eliminates the need for time-consuming box opening operations and enables operators to quickly access and transfer envelopes to the feed mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If conventional packaging is used, then envelopes are protected during transport, but disposal of empty packaging is troublesome and space-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport protectionVSAvoiddisposal process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging is segmented into a reusable base unit and disposable hood units. The hood units can be easily removed and disposed of separately after use, while the base unit remains for future use. This segmentation makes disposal much easier and less space-consuming compared to conventional single-piece cardboard boxes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hood units are designed as disposable, short-living components that are easily removed and discarded after envelopes are transferred. This disposable approach to the hood units simplifies disposal processes and reduces the burden of handling and storing empty packaging material, while the base unit provides ongoing utility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Volume of stationary object

If plastic Post Boxes are used, then envelopes can be accommodated and stacked space-saving, but the boxes are heavy and expensive to produce

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking spaceVSAvoidweight of empty boxes

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging material is changed from heavy plastic to lightweight cardboard for the base unit and hood units. This parameter change in material density and weight maintains the space-saving stacking capability while significantly reducing the weight of empty packaging, making it easier to handle and dispose of compared to plastic Post Boxes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8813953B2Transportable arrangement comprising a pack of insertion envelopes lying flat against one another and a packaging

Publication Date: 2014.08.26 AWA COUVERT

AI summary

A transportable arrangement that includes a plurality of stuffing envelopes adjoining each other in planar manner and a packaging therefor. A cover body made of cardboard-like material surrounds the plurality of stuffing envelopes. The cover body surrounds the plurality of stuffing envelopes on the bottoms thereof, the tops thereof and both end sides completely or partially. The narrow sides are left open. The cover body comprises two rectangular panes, designed relatively stronger than the other components of the cover body and resting on the end sides. The cover body comprises a tear tab that is arranged on one of the end sides of the plurality of stuffing envelopes. This allows the cover body to be torn open and the cover body to be pulled off the plurality of stuffing envelopes.