Water-Soluble Detergent Pouch Dosing With Variable-Speed Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing process of detergent water-soluble pouches faces inefficiencies in dosing detergent particles, particularly enzymes, due to the need to match the speed of a rotating discretizing element with the movement of cavities, which limits production rate.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a rotating discretizing element that varies its rotational speed to decouple the dosing speed from the cavity movement frequency, allowing accurate and consistent dosing of detergent particles, including enzymes, into the pouch compartments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the rotating discretizing element rotates at constant speed to ensure accurate dosing, then dosing precision is improved, but the production rate decreases because the dosing speed becomes the rate limiting step

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidproduction rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating discretizing element operates at variable speeds rather than constant speed. The controller adjusts the rotational speed dynamically: rotating at a first speed during the loading portion of the arc to ensure accurate dosing, and at a second (higher) speed during the non-loading portion to increase overall production rate. This dynamic speed adjustment resolves the contradiction between dosing precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the speed of the rotating discretizing element is increased to improve production rate, then productivity is improved, but the matching between dosing frequency and cavity passage frequency becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction rateVSAvoiddosing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic speed adjustment where the rotating discretizing element rotates at different speeds at different portions of its rotational arc. The controller synchronizes the dosing events with cavity passage by adjusting speed in real-time, ensuring that dosing frequency matches cavity passage frequency even at higher overall production rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating discretizing element performs periodic dosing actions synchronized with the periodic passage of cavities. The controller regulates the rotational speed to ensure that dosing occurs at the correct periodic intervals, matching the rhythm of cavity passage while maintaining high overall production rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Manufacturing precision

If the speed of the rotating discretizing element is decreased to match cavity movement frequency, then dosing consistency is improved, but the loading speed becomes the rate limiting step

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing consistencyVSAvoidloading speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating discretizing element rotates at a lower speed during the loading portion of the arc to ensure accurate and consistent dosing, then accelerates to a higher speed during the non-loading portion. This dynamic speed variation allows the system to maintain dosing consistency while overcoming the loading speed limitation, thereby improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4378841B1A method of manufacturing a detergent water-soluble pouch
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP4378841B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4378841B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a detergent water-soluble pouch that uses a rotating discretizing element that rotates at variable speeds.