Integral Printed Envelope With Perforated Connecting Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing printed products with enclosed information, such as envelopes, require significant effort and manual labor, especially in ensuring matching pairs of customized covers and inserts, and lack efficient machine-based production processes.

Innovation Solution

A printed product formed from a continuous flat material where both the cover and insert are integrally connected via perforation lines, allowing for machine-based production and seamless separation upon opening, ensuring the insert is securely placed within the envelope without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cover and insert are manufactured separately with individualized content, then customization and confidentiality are improved, but matching pairs must be ensured manually and insertion requires complex manual or automated processes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecustomizationVSAvoidmatching and insertion process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cover and insert into a single integral printed product formed from one continuous flat material. The cover section, connecting section, and insert section are all part of the same printed sheet, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and manual matching processes while maintaining customization capabilities through individualized printing on different sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cover and insert are manufactured separately, then individual customization is possible, but manual intervention is required for insertion without damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual customizationVSAvoidinsertion process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the cover and insert into a single integral structure, the patent eliminates the insertion step entirely. The insert section is already positioned within the cover section in the correct location before delivery, requiring no manual or automated insertion process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The insert section is preliminarily positioned within the cover section during the printing and forming process. The connecting section maintains the insert in its proper location within the envelope's inner receiving space before the product is delivered to the recipient

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the cover and insert are formed integrally from the same flat material, then machine-based production is enabled and cost is reduced, but the connecting section requires careful design for separation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine-based productionVSAvoidconnecting section design
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the integral printed product into distinct functional sections (cover section, connecting section, insert section) that are formed from one continuous material. The connecting section is specifically designed with perforation lines that allow easy separation along predetermined paths, enabling simple machine-based production while facilitating clean separation when the envelope is opened

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting section acts as an intermediary element between the cover and insert sections. It provides the mechanical connection that maintains integral formation during production while incorporating perforation lines that enable clean separation at the point of use, resolving the conflict between manufacturing simplicity and separation ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4008562B1Printed product and method of manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 WIRTZ DRUCK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4008562B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4008562B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4008562B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A printed product made of a flat material (1) which has a plurality of perforation lines (5, 7). A section of the printed product forms a cover section (2) to which an insert section (4) is integrally connected, the transition between the cover section (2) and the insert section (4) being formed by a connecting section (3). A first perforation line (5) is formed in the flat material (1) between the connecting section (3) and the insert section (4). The insert section (4) is inserted into the cover section (2), which is folded to form a cover, by folding along the connecting section (3). A second perforation line (7) defines a detachable flap (10) on the cover section (2), which is connected to the connecting section (3) and can be detached from the insert section (4) along the first perforation line (5), together with the connecting section (3).