Continuous Packaging Material Partitioning for Cigarette Group Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods and devices for producing packages in the cigarette industry are expensive and inefficient, particularly in terms of production speed.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a separating element made from a continuous packaging material, folded into a three-dimensional shape with fold lines, to separate groups of products within a common inner sheath, allowing for efficient packaging and elimination of the need for additional collars, with a device that includes a conveyor system and folding stations to facilitate the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional methods are used to produce packages with separating elements, then the packaging can effectively separate product groups, but the production speed is slow and costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous packaging material is segmented through fold lines to create multiple separating elements that can be folded into three-dimensional partitions. This segmentation allows a single continuous material to serve multiple separation functions simultaneously, increasing production speed while maintaining effective product group separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The separating element is pre-formed by folding the continuous packaging material into a three-dimensional shape with predetermined fold lines before insertion into the pocket. This preliminary folding action enables the separating element to be ready for immediate use, eliminating the need for complex on-demand formation mechanisms and thereby increasing production efficiency.
2Loss of substance
If a continuous packaging material is used to create separating elements, then waste is reduced and costs are lowered, but the device complexity increases due to folding mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a continuous flexible packaging material that can be folded along predetermined fold lines to create three-dimensional separating elements. This flexible material approach allows the same continuous sheet to be formed into multiple separating elements without waste, while the folding mechanism remains relatively simple as it only requires creating bends along predetermined lines rather than complex shaping operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple separate separating elements are used, then each partition can be optimized, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and slower
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous packaging material is segmented through fold lines to create multiple separating elements that can be folded into three-dimensional partitions. This segmentation allows a single continuous material to serve multiple separation functions simultaneously, increasing production speed while maintaining effective product group separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple separating elements are merged into a single continuous packaging material. By combining multiple separate components into one continuous sheet with integrated fold lines, the patent achieves both the precision of optimized partitions and the speed of single-step manufacturing, as all separating elements are formed simultaneously from the continuous material.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing packages (10) for products of the cigarette industry, wherein several groups (15) of products are wrapped together with a separating element (33) that at least partially separates the groups (15) in a common covering (17), wherein the separating element (33) is first inserted into a receptacle of a pocket (85), and wherein the groups (15) of products are then inserted into receiving spaces in the pocket (85) such that a partition (45) of the separating element (33) is arranged between at least two groups (15) of products, and wherein finally the groups (15) of products together with the separating element (33) are pushed out of the pocket (85) and wrapped in a covering (17). According to the invention, the method is carried out in multiple lanes, wherein separating elements (33) and groups (15) of products are simultaneously fed into at least two adjacent pockets (85).are ejected, wherein the pockets (85) are arranged at a track spacing, and wherein unfolded blanks for the partition elements (33) have a length greater than the track spacing, and wherein the length of the blanks (42) is reduced by folding the walls (44) for the partitions (45) to a dimension less than the track spacing. Alternatively, it can be provided that blanks (42) for a partition element (33) are transported along a partition element track (72) and then pushed transversely to the partition element track (72) onto a transverse discharge track (73) and transported along the transverse discharge track (73) and fed to the pocket (85) and inserted into it, and that the blank (42) is at least partially folded in the partition element track (72) by a folding element (79) before transverse transport to the pocket (85) to at least partially form the partition (45).