Moisture Control for Corrugated Cardboard Liner Warping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacture of corrugated cardboard is impaired by warping issues due to varying moisture and temperature levels in paper rolls, affecting the quality and stability of the final product.

Innovation Solution

A control system that uses sensors to measure and stabilize the moisture of the liner paper before gluing, employing heaters and actuators to adjust the moisture levels uniformly, thereby reducing warping and improving the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If moisture control is implemented during manufacturing, then warping is reduced or eliminated, but device complexity increases due to addition of sensors and control equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewarping reductionVSAvoidcontrol equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring and controlling the moisture content of the liner paper before it reaches the gluing station. The moisture control system is positioned upstream in the manufacturing process, allowing moisture adjustment to occur prior to assembly. This prevents warping issues from developing in the first place, rather than correcting them afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by using moisture sensors to continuously monitor the moisture content of the liner paper and automatically adjusting the moisture supply system based on real-time measurements. This closed-loop control system maintains optimal moisture levels dynamically, ensuring consistent quality while reducing warping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If moisture measurement and control is implemented, then manufacturing precision is improved, but measurement and control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture control precisionVSAvoidmoisture measurement difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by using the liner paper itself as the measurement target. The moisture sensor directly measures the moisture content of the liner paper passing through the system, and the control system automatically adjusts moisture supply based on these measurements without requiring external intervention or complex manual measurement procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If moisture stabilization is performed before gluing, then product quality is enhanced, but manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs moisture stabilization as a preliminary action integrated into the existing manufacturing flow. By positioning the moisture control system upstream and allowing continuous moisture adjustment during paper transport, the process prepares the material in advance without creating separate processing stages or bottlenecks that would extend manufacturing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by implementing continuous moisture measurement and control throughout the paper transport process. Rather than using batch processing or intermittent adjustments, the system continuously monitors and adjusts moisture levels, ensuring optimal conditions are maintained throughout manufacturing without interrupting the production flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 effectively reduces warping in corrugated cardboard by maintaining consistent moisture levels, enhancing the quality and stability of the finished product and optimizing the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor arrangement 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D is used for measuring the moisture of the liner 150

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoisture measurement: Hygrometer

Implementation Method 2

a heater arrangement 104A, 104B stabilizes the moisture of the liner 150 on the basis of the measured moisture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

stabilizes the moisture of the liner 150... prior to gluing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3110621B1Method and equipment for control and manufacture of corrugated cardboard
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 VALMET AUTOMATION OY
  • EP3110621B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3110621B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3110621B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

Equipment for controlling manufacture of corrugated cardboard, comprising a sensor arrangement (102A, 102B, 102C, 102D) arranged to measure moisture of a liner (150) in connection with unwinding of the liner (150) in an unwinding part (10) in order to control the moisture of the liner (150) prior to gluing to a fluting (120) on the basis of the measured moisture.