Inline Cardboard Production Line Eliminating Intermediate Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cardboard article production lines are inefficient due to the need for multiple material transports, leading to contamination, safety hazards, and increased downtime, as semi-finished parts are handled manually and stored before being formed into articles.

Innovation Solution

An inline production line integrating a cutting machine to cut semi-finished parts directly from a cardboard web and an article former to form them into articles, with a handover unit for automated transfer, reducing storage and transport needs, and allowing for continuous production with minimal waste and improved hygiene.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If semi-finished parts are stored in an intermediate storage unit, then production can be decoupled between cutting and forming operations, but the parts become contaminated with dust and the process becomes less hygienic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction decouplingVSAvoidcontamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cutting machine and article former into an integrated inline production line where semi-finished parts are directly transferred from cutting to forming without intermediate storage. This eliminates the storage unit that causes contamination while maintaining production efficiency through direct coupling of operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a handover unit as an intermediary device that automatically transfers semi-finished parts from the cutting machine to the article former. This mediator enables direct transfer without storage, eliminating dust contamination while maintaining operational decoupling through automated handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If semi-finished parts are manually transported and stored, then flexibility in production scheduling is improved, but safety hazards increase and operator safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction scheduling flexibilityVSAvoidoperator safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inline production line with automated handover unit enables the system to serve itself by automatically transferring semi-finished parts from cutting to forming operations. This eliminates manual handling and storage, improving operator safety while maintaining scheduling flexibility through automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical transport and storage operations with an automated inline system featuring a handover unit. This substitution eliminates safety hazards associated with manual handling while maintaining production flexibility through automated scheduling and control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple transport operations are performed on semi-finished parts, then production flexibility is improved, but energy consumption increases and production speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction flexibilityVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate operations (cutting, transport, storage, forming) into an integrated inline production line. This merging eliminates redundant transport operations, reducing energy consumption and increasing production speed while maintaining flexibility through coordinated automated control of the integrated system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The inline production line enables continuous operation where semi-finished parts flow directly from cutting to forming without interruption for storage or repositioning. This continuity eliminates downtime and redundant movements, increasing production speed while maintaining flexibility through seamless automated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2627565B1Cardboard article production line
Publication Date: 2014.06.04 HUHTAMAKI OY
  • EP2627565B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2627565B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cardboard article production line. By means of this production line, cups with a single- or a double-sidewall can be produced. Trays, plates, boxes, particularly folded boxes, or the like can also be produced with the inventive production line.