Cigarette Packaging Winding Device with Integrated Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging systems for cigarettes are bulky, difficult to service, and require complex mechanisms to wrap cigarettes in a sheet without damaging them, making them inefficient and inflexible for variations in packaging specifications.

Innovation Solution

A device that winds an aluminum film sheet around cigarettes using a simplified mechanism with a 'V'-shaped configuration and bending lines to prevent damage, allowing for efficient wrapping and reduced component complexity, enabling flexible adaptation to different packaging configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If prior art systems use bulky mechanisms to supply the sheet and specific means to weaken the sheet before picking up by cigarettes, then the sheet can be wrapped without damaging cigarettes, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to service

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of cigarette damageVSAvoidcomplexity of sheet supply and weakening mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sheet supply function and the weakening function into a single integrated channel structure. The longitudinal channel serves both to convey the sheet and to provide the weakening action through its geometry, eliminating the need for separate bulky mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The longitudinal channel performs multiple functions simultaneously: it supplies the sheet to the cigarettes, weakens the sheet through its constrained geometry, and guides the wrapping process. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity while maintaining the reliability of cigarette protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If prior art systems use separate supplying means for envelope and product, then the wrapping process can be controlled precisely, but the area surrounding winding means becomes excessively congested

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of wrapping controlVSAvoidarea surrounding winding means
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the separate supplying means for the envelope and product into a single longitudinal channel where both elements are conveyed and positioned together. This integration maintains precise wrapping control while significantly reducing the spatial footprint of the winding area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The envelope sheet is nested within the longitudinal channel during the supply process, with the channel providing a confined space that guides both the sheet and product in close proximity. This nesting approach minimizes the surrounding area while maintaining precise control over the wrapping process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If prior art devices have complex mechanisms for sheet advancement and weakening, then the envelope can be wrapped with well-defined bend lines, but the devices become burdensome and difficult to configure for variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefinition of bend linesVSAvoidflexibility for packaging variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a dynamic longitudinal channel that can be adjusted or reconfigured for different packaging variations. The channel's geometry provides the necessary weakening action for well-defined bend lines, while its adaptable nature allows easy configuration changes without requiring completely different mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention achieves adaptability by changing parameters of the longitudinal channel (such as its geometry, position, or configuration) rather than changing the entire mechanism. This allows the same basic structure to produce well-defined bend lines for different envelope and product combinations, significantly improving versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2419337B1Device for packaging a product in an envelope
Publication Date: 2013.07.03 GIMA TT SPA
  • EP2419337B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2419337B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2419337B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is described a device for winding an envelope (A) around a product (B), in particular defined by a group of cigarettes or the like, to be packaged in a corresponding box-shaped body, or packet, which comprises means (10) for winding said envelope (A) around said product (B) and means (20) that are adapted to supply said product (B) and said envelope (A) to said winding means (10).