Cigarette Packer Folding Mechanism for Square Folds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cigarette pack manufacturing technologies face challenges in producing high-quality cigarette packs with precise and square folds at high production speeds, particularly in creating rigid packs with hinged lids that maintain quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A packer machine and wrapping method that utilize a spindle-based system with suction holes to hold and fold wrapping sheets around cigarettes, ensuring precise folding and high-quality wraps, combined with a folding device that folds the sheet in a 'U'-shape and then a tubular shape, without the need for gluing, to create a rigid pack with a hinged lid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional gluing methods are used to assemble the outer container and lid, then the structural strength is improved, but the manufacturing precision of folds deteriorates due to glue interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the gluing operation from the manufacturing process entirely. The outer container and lid are assembled using mechanical interlocking through folded flaps and recesses, eliminating glue interference that would compromise fold precision while maintaining structural strength through the folded construction itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The blank is designed to be self-assembling through its folded structure. The flaps and recesses are configured to interlock automatically during the folding process, creating a strong structural assembly without requiring external adhesives, thereby preserving fold precision while achieving structural strength.
2Productivity
If high production speeds are used to increase productivity, then the output per unit time is improved, but the manufacturing precision of folds deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The blank is pre-configured with all necessary fold lines, flaps, and recesses during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation allows the folding process to proceed rapidly through simple, predetermined motions without requiring complex real-time adjustments, thereby maintaining high fold precision even at high production speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding process is divided into distinct, sequential stages corresponding to different sections of the blank. Each stage handles specific folds independently through dedicated folding elements, allowing for precise control of each segment while maintaining overall high-speed production through parallel processing of multiple packs.
3Reliability
If complex gluing processes are used to create the hinged lid structure, then the structural reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gluing process from the hinged lid assembly, replacing it with a purely mechanical connection system. The lid is attached to the container through folded flaps that interlock with recesses, providing reliable structural connection while dramatically simplifying the manufacturing process and eliminating the complexity of glue application and drying systems.
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
The solution enables the production of cigarette packs with extremely precise and square folds, maintaining high quality even at high production speeds, and allows for easy format changes, resulting in a compact and efficient manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
A packer machine and wrapping method to produce a cigarette pack provided with an outer container and a hinged lid folding a blank around a wrap enclosing a group of smoking articles
Data Source
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AI summary
A packer machine (29) and a wrapping method to produce a cigarette pack (1) provided with an outer container (2) and a hinged lid (4) folding a blank (28) around a wrap (3) enclosing a group (14) of smoking articles; there are: a wrapping drum (106), which moves a pocket (108) along a circular wrapping path (P7); a first folding device (109), which is arranged along the first wrapping path (P7) and folds the blank (28) around the wrap (3) placing a pair of second wings (9", 13") in contact with the wrap (3) and arranging a pair of first wings (9', 13') coplanar to one another and perpendicular to the pair of second wings (9", 13"); a pusher (111), which pulls the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) out of the pocket (108) of the wrapping drum (106) by means of a movement along a transfer direction (D4), which is perpendicular to the wrapping path (P7); a gluing conveyor (112), which receives the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) from the pocket (108) of the wrapping drum (106) and moves the wrap (3) wrapped in the blank (28) along a straight gluing path (P8), which is parallel to a rotation axis (107) of the wrapping drum (106); a gluing device (114), which is arranged along the gluing path (P8) and applies glue (115) on the first wings (9', 13'); and a second folding device (118), which is arranged downstream of the gluing device (114) and folds the first wings (9', 13') by 90° against the second wings (9", 13"), thus completing the production of the cigarette pack (1).