In-Line Corrugated Cardboard Laminating Plant with Heated Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing in-line laminating plants for corrugated cardboard face challenges with vinyl glue adhesion requiring precise speed control and alignment, leading to complex machinery and production difficulties, especially in producing double-wave corrugated cardboard.

Innovation Solution

The plant employs starch-based glue application with upwardly arranged waves, a single gluing unit, and a double backer unit for heating and aligning cannetés, simplifying the process and reducing the need for multiple alignment systems and trimming units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If vinyl glue is used for joining cannetés at low temperature, then cold gluing is achieved, but complete adhesion requires a predetermined period of time and precise speed control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegluing temperatureVSAvoidadhesion time
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the temperature parameter from cold (vinyl glue) to hot (starch-based glue requiring heating), which fundamentally alters the adhesion mechanism. The hot gluing process with starch-based glue eliminates the need for prolonged adhesion time and precise speed control required by cold gluing methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical speed control system with a thermal processing system. Instead of controlling paper speeds precisely to allow vinyl glue adhesion time, the invention uses heating elements and heated rollers to activate starch-based glue, substituting mechanical precision with thermal processing

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

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple alignment systems and trimming units are used to maintain precise alignment, then lateral alignment of cannetés is achieved, but device complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelateral alignment precisionVSAvoidnumber of alignment systems
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate alignment and trimming functions into a single integrated gluing unit. The heated rollers and alignment mechanisms are combined in one device, eliminating the need for separate alignment systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining alignment precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gluing unit is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs heating, gluing, and alignment functions. This universal device replaces what would traditionally require separate specialized machines for each function, reducing complexity while achieving the same manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration ensures efficient, high-quality production of single-wave and double-wave corrugated cardboard with reduced complexity and waste, improving production efficiency and product quality.

Implementation Method 1

a double backer unit for heating and aligning cannetés

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

starch-based glue application with upwardly arranged waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4596228A1In-line corrugated cardboard laminating plant
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 FOSBER
  • EP4596228A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4596228A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4596228A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An in-line corrugated cardboard plant comprises a first corrugating group (10) adapted to form a first cannete (C1), a second corrugating group (20) adapted to form a second canneté (C2), a laminating machine (50) comprising a magazine (52) of laminated sheets (51), and a coupling unit (60) for coupling the laminated sheets (51), adapted to couple the laminated sheets (51) to one or more of the cannetes (C1, C2) so as to form a laminated corrugated cardboard. The plant comprises a gluing unit (30) and a double backer unit (40) arranged downstream of the two corrugating groups (10, 20) and upstream of the laminating machine (30) with respect to a direction of movement (F) along a longitudinal direction (X-X) in which the cannetés (C1, C2) are moved.