Package with cloth products

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging of soaked cloth products experiences uneven distribution of impregnation agents due to gravity, leading to insufficient moisture at the top and excessive at the bottom, with prior solutions either shifting the issue or increasing production costs and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating biodegradable and compostable liquid-impermeable film barrier layers within the stack of cloth products to prevent liquid accumulation at the bottom, ensuring a uniform distribution of the impregnation agent across all layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If soaked cloth products are packaged in stacks without barrier layers, then the packaging is simple and cost-effective, but the impregnation agent distributes unevenly due to gravity causing top products to be insufficiently soaked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoaking effectivenessVSAvoidpackaging structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stack of cloth products is segmented into multiple sections by inserting barrier layers at specific intervals. These barrier layers divide the continuous stack into discrete zones, preventing the impregnation agent from freely migrating throughout the entire stack and ensuring each section maintains adequate moisture levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Barrier layers are introduced as intermediary elements between the cloth products in the stack. These layers act as mediators that control the distribution of impregnation agent, blocking excessive migration while allowing controlled transfer, thus maintaining uniform soaking effectiveness throughout the stack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the amount of impregnation agent is increased to ensure top products remain sufficiently soaked, then soaking effectiveness is maintained, but production costs increase and excessive accumulation occurs at the bottom

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoaking effectivenessVSAvoidimpregnation agent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the stack with barrier layers, the impregnation agent is confined to specific zones rather than freely distributing throughout. This segmentation prevents excessive accumulation at the bottom while ensuring adequate presence at the top, optimizing the quantity required for effective soaking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier layers create local zones with controlled impregnation agent distribution. Each section between barrier layers maintains its own optimal concentration level, ensuring sufficient soaking effectiveness locally without requiring excessive overall quantity that would lead to bottom accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If thickeners are added to increase impregnation agent viscosity to reduce sagging, then liquid distribution improves, but effectiveness of impregnating agents is impaired and residues form on surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpregnation agent distributionVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the impregnation agent's physical properties with thickeners, barrier layers are introduced as intermediary structures to control distribution. This approach achieves stable liquid distribution without altering the chemical composition or effectiveness of the impregnation agent, avoiding residue formation and maintaining cleaning performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If natural fibers with higher absorbency are used to improve distribution, then soaking capacity increases, but production costs increase and interactions with active ingredients occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsorbency capacityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Barrier layers serve as intermediary elements that control impregnation agent distribution without requiring changes to the cloth product material composition. This approach achieves improved distribution and reduced bottom accumulation while maintaining production cost-effectiveness and avoiding material-specific interactions with active ingredients.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Maintains a low liquid gradient within the pack, ensuring all cloth products remain sufficiently soaked, reducing waste and environmental impact while avoiding excessive impregnation agent accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one barrier layer is also arranged which comprises a material or consists of a material which has a different absorbency for the impregnation agent than the nonwoven fabric... the material comprising or consisting of the at least one barrier layer is a liquid-impermeable film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid impermeability: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

the impregnation agent sinks due to gravity after a comparatively short standing time

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP3892180B1Package with cloth products
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 DR SCHUMACHER GMBH
  • EP3892180B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a package of cloth products comprising a stack comprising a plurality of cloth products arranged one above the other, each comprising a nonwoven fabric impregnated with an impregnating agent, wherein at least one barrier layer is also arranged in the stack comprising the cloth products arranged one above the other, the barrier layer comprising or consisting of a material having a different absorbency than the nonwoven fabric comprising the cloth products, wherein the material comprising or consisting of the at least one barrier layer (3) is a liquid-impermeable film made of biodegradable and/or compostable plastic.