Cigarette Tray with Integrated Wall Separator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The packaging process for cigarette industry products faces challenges in efficiently separating multiple groups of products within a packet, leading to material wastage and increased production complexity due to the need for additional separate elements.
Innovation Solution
A packet design featuring a tray with integrated separators formed by folding tabs or protrusions within the tray's walls, eliminating the need for separate elements by using the tray's material to create receptacle spaces, and a method involving a folding turret to fold the packaging material around the products while aligning and securing the separators using locking tabs or protrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If separate elements are used to form separators for delimiting receptacle spaces, then the separation of multiple groups of products is achieved, but material wastage increases and production complexity increases due to the need for additional separate elements
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is merged with the tray structure, forming an integral component rather than a separate element. The blank for the tray includes the separator as part of its wall structure, eliminating the need for additional separate separator elements during assembly and reducing material wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall of the tray serves multiple functions: it forms the structural boundary of the receptacle space and simultaneously incorporates the separator function through its integrated design. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated separator components.
2Reliability
If separate elements are used to form separators for delimiting receptacle spaces, then the separation of multiple groups of products is achieved, but production complexity increases due to the need for additional separate elements
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is merged with the tray structure, forming an integral component rather than a separate element. The blank for the tray includes the separator as part of its wall structure, eliminating the need for additional separate separator elements during assembly and reducing material wastage.
3Ease of manufacture
If integrated separators are used within the tray's walls, then material is saved and production is simplified, but the complexity of folding and forming the tray structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blank is segmented into functional zones including the separator portion integrated within the wall structure. The separator is formed by a punched cut in the material of the wall and can be pivoted about a folding axis, allowing it to be erected from a flat position to a vertical separating position during the folding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator is pre-formed as part of the blank structure with punched cuts and folding axes prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation allows the separator to be automatically erected during the normal folding process without requiring additional separate assembly steps.
4Ease of operation
If the separator is formed by a punched cut and pivoting mechanism, then the separator can be easily erected and positioned, but additional folding steps are required in the production process
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is pre-formed as part of the blank structure with punched cuts and folding axes prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation allows the separator to be automatically erected during the normal folding process without requiring additional separate assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A packet for cigarette industry products, having a tray for receiving at least one group of products, and a device and a method for producing the same. The packet is characterized in that the tray is specified for receiving at least two groups of products, and in that at least one separator for delimiting two receptacle spaces for in each case at least one group of products is disposed in an interior of the tray, and in that the separator is formed from a wall of the tray.