Mobile Adhesive Dispensing for Cigarette Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cigarette packaging machines face issues with adhesive accumulation, complex adhesive dispensing paths, and inadequate bonding strength, leading to soiled packages, laborious cleaning, and structural complications.
Innovation Solution
A device with mobile adhesive dispensing means next to the forming wheel, using both hot melt and cold adhesives to simplify the packaging process, ensuring effective bonding and reduced equipment length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If adhesive dispensing is performed on the same forming wheel, then the packaging process is integrated, but adhesive accumulates near the rotating wheels and soils the package
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive dispensing function is extracted from the rotating forming wheel and relocated to a stationary position adjacent to the forming wheel's exit. This separation allows the adhesive dispensing to occur at a fixed location where adhesive can be properly applied without accumulating near rotating components, thereby eliminating the soiling problem while maintaining process integration.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed adhesive dispensing means are used with moving containers, then adhesive can be applied to the container, but the container must follow an excessively complex path
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the adhesive dispensing means with the container along a complex path, the invention inverts the approach by making the adhesive dispensing means stationary and allowing it to apply adhesive to the moving container at a fixed location. This simplifies the container's conveyance path from complex to straightforward.
3Reliability
If cold adhesive or room temperature polymerizing adhesive is used, then bonding can be achieved, but lengthy polymerization times are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the adhesive from cold or room temperature to heated conditions. By applying heat to the adhesive during or after dispensing, the polymerization process is accelerated significantly, reducing the bonding time from lengthy durations to a brief period while maintaining reliable bonding effectiveness.
4Productivity
If quick-stick hot melt adhesive is used for joining panels, then bonding speed is improved, but bonding solidity and long-term preservation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the temperature parameter of the hot melt adhesive, using a controlled heating system that maintains the adhesive at an optimal temperature range. This ensures both quick bonding speed and adequate bonding solidity, resolving the trade-off between productivity and reliability by finding the optimal temperature parameter.
5Reliability
If lengthy discharge paths are provided for containers, then adequate bonding time is achieved, but structural complications and excessive machine length occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the adhesive to accelerate polymerization, which compensates for the reduced discharge path length. By heating the adhesive, the bonding process occurs faster, allowing adequate bonding time to be achieved within a shorter machine length, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and machine size.
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 solution provides a simplified packaging process with easy conveyance of containers, maintaining package assembly integrity over time, and reducing machine stoppages and cleaning burdens.
Implementation Method 1
the means able to dispense a corresponding adhesive comprise means for dispensing a hot melt adhesive
Implementation Method 2
Hot melt adhesives are also contemplated for joining the corresponding panels of the package
Implementation Method 3
adhesive of the cold type, or which polymerizes at room temperature, is provided on corresponding panels of the packer
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1) for packaging a product shaped as a set of cigarettes in a corresponding container (A), defining a package for housing the product, comprises means (11) for forming the container (A) and appropriate means (21, 21) to dispense a corresponding adhesive (Bl, B2) for joining corresponding panels of the container. Said appropriate means (21) to dispense a corresponding adhesive are provided next to the exit from the forming means (11) and are movable with respect to said container (A).