Noodle Strip Plastic Wrap Segmentation for Easy Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for aging noodle strips, such as winding them around a rod and covering with plastic wrap, often result in the wrap adhering to the strips, making it difficult to remove and decreasing productivity.

Innovation Solution

A method and machine design where the plastic wrap is wound around the noodle strips in a way that it is held between layers, allowing for easy removal by pulling the end of the wrap, preventing adherence and ensuring the wrap covers the entire strip without leaving residue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sheet of plastic wrap is wound around the noodle strip to cover the entire surface, then the noodle strip is properly protected for aging, but the wrap adheres to the noodle strip making it difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of plastic wrapVSAvoidremoval of plastic wrap

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic wrap is segmented into multiple sections: a folded portion held between noodle strip layers, a double-wound portion for secure attachment, and an extending portion for easy grasping and removal. This segmentation allows different parts of the wrap to serve different functions - protection during aging and easy removal afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The folded portion of the plastic wrap acts as an intermediary element held between the noodle strip layers. This intermediary structure provides a non-adhering attachment point that allows the wrap to be securely positioned during aging while enabling easy removal by pulling the extending portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the sheet of plastic wrap is tightly wound around the noodle strip, then the coverage is complete, but the wrap adheres to itself and the noodle strip surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of plastic wrapVSAvoidadherence of plastic wrap

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the plastic wrap to adhere directly to the noodle strip surface (conventional method), the invention inverts the approach by folding the wrap and holding it between noodle strip layers. This inversion prevents direct contact and adhesion between the wrap and the noodle strip outer surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic wrap is used as a flexible thin film that is folded and layered rather than flat-wound. This flexible configuration allows the wrap to conform to the noodle strip shape while preventing adhesion through the folded structure and air gaps created by the layering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If a single long sheet of plastic wrap is used to cover multiple noodle strips, then the process is continuous, but it is difficult to locate the end for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous covering processVSAvoidlocation of wrap end

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The extending portion of the plastic wrap creates a visual distinction from the wrapped portions. This extending end portion is accessible and identifiable, serving as a visual and tactile marker that allows operators to easily locate where to begin removal, even when covering multiple noodle strips continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS12137693B2Method and machine for aging a noodle strip

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 YUTAKA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

When a sheet of plastic wrap is wound around noodle strips, a folded portion of the sheet of plastic wrap is held between layers of the noodle strip and is double wound on an outer side of the noodle strip. The sheet of plastic wrap covers an entirety of the wound noodle strip. The sheet of plastic wrap on an outer peripheral side of the folded sheet of plastic wrap extends from and is wound around a next noodle strip. Next, another folded portion of the sheet of plastic wrap is held between layers of the next noodle strip and is double wound on an outer side thereof. The sheet of plastic wrap sequentially covers an entirety of the next noodle strip.