Cutting Unit for Cigarette Pack Strap Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting units for 'book-pack' packs of cigarettes often fail to completely remove the strap from the bottom wall after cutting, leading to issues like strap loss in the machine or random wrapping positions, which affect the quality of the final product.
Innovation Solution
A cutting unit with two coaxial rotary blades and a sucking device that makes double cuts in the bottom wall of the pack, ensuring the strap is removed by lifting the front part of the bottom wall away from the rear part, allowing the sucking device to capture and remove the strap effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If two parallel rotary blades are used to make double cuts in the bottom wall, then the strap is separated from the bottom wall, but the strap remains stuck in the bottom wall and is not removed by suction
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom wall is divided into three segments through double cutting: the rear part remaining attached to the pack, the strap to be removed, and the front part that is lifted away. This segmentation allows the strap to be isolated and easily removed by suction without being stuck to the bottom wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The front part of the bottom wall is lifted in the vertical dimension away from the rear part, creating a gap that allows the suction device to access and remove the strap effectively. This dimensional change prevents the strap from remaining stuck in the bottom wall plane.
2Ease of manufacture
If the strap is not completely removed after cutting, then the cutting operation is simple, but the strap causes problems like loss in the machine or random wrapping positions
Solution Approach 1:
The suction device acts as an intermediary element that bridges the cutting operation and strap removal. After the rotary blades make the cuts, the suction device is activated to capture and remove the separated strap, ensuring complete removal without complicating the cutting mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting and strap removal operations are combined into a continuous process. The suction device operates immediately after cutting to remove the strap while it is still separated and accessible, ensuring complete removal in one continuous action rather than requiring separate operations.
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 ensures the reliable removal of the strap after cutting, preventing it from getting stuck and improving the quality of the packed cigarettes by maintaining the strap in its correct position during wrapping.
Implementation Method 1
a sucking device that makes double cuts in the bottom wall of the pack, ensuring the strap is removed by lifting the front part of the bottom wall away from the rear part, allowing the sucking device to capture and remove the strap effectively
Data Source
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AI summary
A cutting method and unit (11) to cut a wall (6) of a pack (1), in particular of smoking articles. In the wall (6) of the pack (1) a cut (8) is made, which divides the wall (6) into a first part (9) and a second part (10). Before making the cut (8), a first glue (7) is applied between the first part (9) of the wall (6) and a first content of the pack (1) in order to glue the first part (9) to the first content while no glue is applied between the second part (10) of the wall (6) and a second content of the pack (1). Only after having made the cut (8), a second glue (16) is applied between the second part (10) of the wall (6) and the second content of the pack (1) in order to glue the second part (10) to the second content.