Method and apparatus for forming a package comprising a stack of absorbent tissue paper material and a packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for packaging absorbent tissue paper materials face challenges in reducing bulk while maintaining quality, as high compression leads to reduced absorbency and increased springback force, making it difficult to apply packaging effectively in mass production.

Innovation Solution

A method involving temporary compression of the tissue paper stack to a height less than its packing height, followed by packaging, which reduces the springback force and allows for higher packing density without damaging the material, using a compressing unit and packaging unit to maintain the stack at the desired density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high compression pressure is applied to the tissue paper stack to reduce bulk, then packing density is improved, but absorbency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking densityVSAvoidabsorbency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue paper stack is pre-compressed to a temporary height H1 (where H1 < H0) before packaging is applied. This preliminary compression reduces the bulk to fit within the packaging while the packaging is then applied to maintain the compressed state, allowing high packing density without excessive compression that would damage absorbency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If high compression pressure is applied to the tissue paper stack to reduce bulk, then packing density is improved, but springback force increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking densityVSAvoidspringback force
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The stack is pre-compressed to a temporary height H1 before packaging application. This preliminary action allows the packaging to be applied while the stack is in a controlled compressed state, reducing the springback force that would otherwise occur when trying to package a highly compressed stack

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging acts as an intermediary that maintains the compressed state of the stack. By applying the packaging at the temporary compressed height H1, the packaging serves as a mediator that holds the stack in this state, preventing excessive springback while maintaining high packing density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If high compression is applied to the tissue paper stack, then bulk is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebulkVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stack is pre-compressed to a temporary height H1 before packaging application. This preliminary compression step simplifies the overall manufacturing process by reducing the bulk early, making it easier to handle and package, while the packaging then maintains this reduced bulk state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression process is segmented into two distinct stages: first compressing to temporary height H1, then applying packaging to maintain the compressed state at packing height H0. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently, reducing overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The method achieves a higher packing density with reduced springback force, enabling more efficient packaging and storage, while maintaining the tissue paper's quality and ease of use, allowing for denser packing and reduced expansion after unpacking.

Implementation Method 1

each portion of the stack is compressed in a direction along the height (H) to assume a temporary height (H1) being c1 x H0

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

the springback force exerted by a compressed stack towards a packaging may be referred to

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP3310671B1Method and apparatus for forming a package comprising a stack of absorbent tissue paper material and a packaging
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 ESSITY HYGIENE & HEALTH AB
  • EP3310671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3310671B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3c
  • EP3310671B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5b

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a package (100) comprising a stack (10) of absorbent tissue paper material and a packaging (20), the tissue paper material in said stack forming panels having a length (L), and a width (W) perpendicular to said length (L), said panels being piled on top of each other to form a height (H) extending between a first end surface and a second end surface of the stack, and the packaging encircling the stack so as to maintain the stack in a compressed condition in said package, with a selected packing density D0 of said stack (10), and a selected packing height H0; wherein said absorbent tissue paper material is a dry crepe material, and said selected packing density D0 is between 0.30 and 0.95 kg/dm3, or alternatively, said absorbent tissue paper material is a structured tissue material, and said selected packing density D0 is between 0.20 and 0.75 kg/dm3, or alternatively said absorbent tissue paper material is a combination material, comprising at least a dry crepe material and at least a structured tissue material, and the selected packing density D0 is between 0.25 and 0.80 kg/dm3; the method comprising: forming (200) said stack (10) of absorbent tissue paper material; compressing (210) each portion of said stack (10) in a direction along said height (H) to assume a temporary height H1 being c1 x H0, where c1 is between 0.30 and 0.95; and applying (220) said packaging (20) to the stack (10). The disclosure also relates to an apparatus for performing the method.