Independent Transport Elements for Flexible Hygiene Product Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for packaging hygiene products lack flexibility in handling and transporting individual products and packaging units, limiting the ability to perform process steps efficiently and adapt to varying requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a transport system with a transport surface and movable transport elements, controlled by a control unit, allows for independent and simultaneous movement of these elements to manipulate and move products and packaging material in a speed and position-controlled manner, enabling flexible process sequences and parallel processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing packaging systems are used, then products can be packaged, but the system lacks flexibility in handling and transporting individual products and packaging units
Solution Approach 1:
The transport system is divided into multiple independent transport elements (such as individual transport rollers, chains, or conveyors) that can move separately along the packaging line. Each transport element can be independently controlled to handle different products or packaging units at different positions, providing flexibility without requiring a completely complex system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically adjustable transport elements that can change their operation mode, speed, or position based on real-time packaging requirements. The control unit dynamically coordinates the transport elements to adapt to varying product types, packaging unit configurations, and process step requirements, enabling the system to flexibly handle diverse packaging tasks.
2Productivity
If fixed transport systems are used, then products can be moved through process steps, but the ability to perform process steps efficiently and adapt to varying requirements is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transport elements are designed with multi-functionality to perform various tasks including transporting products, positioning packaging units, facilitating product transfer between process steps, and enabling parallel processing operations. The same transport infrastructure can accommodate different product types and packaging configurations, eliminating the need for dedicated fixed systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback about packaging requirements, product types, and process step status to dynamically adjust the operation of transport elements. This feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize process step efficiency while adapting to varying requirements through real-time coordination of transport elements, ensuring high productivity regardless of specific packaging tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transport elements move independently, then flexibility and parallel processing are enabled, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent transport elements are merged into a single coordinated system under one control unit. The control unit integrates the control of all transport elements, managing their independent movements and synchronizing their operations to achieve flexible process step arrangement and parallel processing. This merging approach enables complex coordination without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and to a method for packaging product, in particular for packaging hygiene products such as diapers, panty liners, sanitary pads, incontinence products, wet wipes, toilet paper, paper towel rolls or the like, wherein individual products (3) are combined in several process steps (101, . . . , 111) in a packaging unit comprising a packaging material and several individual products (3) surrounded by the packaging material at least in regions, wherein an individual product (3) and/or a group comprising several individual products (3) and/or the packaging material are manipulated and/or moved by a transport element (20) moved relative to a transport surface (21) in controlled manner during at least one process step and/or for transport between two process steps, wherein the transport element (20) and the transport surface (21) are parts of a transport system (2) comprising the transport surface and several transport elements (20) movable relative to the transport surface (21) independently of one another and simultaneously in a speed and/or position controlled manner.