Disposable Glove Web Layout for Scrap-Free Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The containment and dispensing of disposable gloves, particularly in high-demand settings like food handling, requires efficient methods that minimize waste and maintain low costs.
Innovation Solution
A method of manufacturing disposable gloves involves forming a web from two sheets of material with frangibly connected glove patterns, including cut and seal elements defining finger receptacles, and a sinusoidal curve to facilitate easy detachment and minimize scrap material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If gloves are manufactured using traditional sheet material with continuous web, then material utilization is poor and scrap is generated, but implementing a patterned web with frangible connections enables complete material utilization while allowing easy glove separation
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous web is segmented into discrete glove patterns through a repeating pattern of cut and seal elements. Each glove pattern is separated by break lines that allow easy detachment while maintaining complete material utilization. This segmentation enables each glove to be independently removable without wasting material.
Solution Approach 2:
The web is pre-formed with embedded cut and seal elements, break lines, and finger receptacle definitions before dispensing. This preliminary structuring ensures that when gloves are detached, they separate cleanly along predetermined paths without requiring additional cutting or material waste.
2Ease of operation
If glove patterns are tightly connected to the web for structural integrity, then glove strength is maintained, but detachment becomes difficult and requires excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The web exhibits different connection qualities at different locations: strong sealed connections at the glove body portions (maintaining strength) and weak break lines at the separation points (enabling easy detachment). This local variation in connection quality allows the glove to be both strong during use and easy to remove.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between glove patterns and web is segmented into multiple discrete seal elements along the glove body and distinct break lines at separation points. This segmentation allows localized strong connections where needed while providing clear detachment paths where separation is required.
3Productivity
If multiple glove patterns are arranged in a compact web layout, then productivity and material efficiency improve, but the complexity of forming accurate finger receptacles and cut elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The web formation process utilizes controlled parameter changes in the material state and forming conditions to create precise finger receptacles and cut elements. By adjusting material properties and forming parameters during web creation, accurate geometric features are achieved that enable compact layouts while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making gloves from a web of material, which leaves no scrap from the web of material. A first sheet of material is overlaid on a second sheet of material forming a web. First and second glove patterns are formed in the web are arranged to be opposite one another in the cross machine direction of the web. A sinusoidal cut can be made in the web in the machine direction to form glove patterns opposite each other in the cross machine direction.