Paper Roll End Flap Paste Pattern for Easier Opening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paper rolls are difficult to open due to the large, non-identifiable pasted end flap, requiring users to tear a considerable amount of paper before unrolling correctly.

Innovation Solution

A toilet/kitchen paper roll design featuring a pasted end flap with a colored, discontinuous line of paste that leaves an unpasted region of 10-20 mm, facilitating flap identification and easier opening, produced using commercially available machinery and materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a continuous line of paste is used to fix the end flap to the roll, then the roll is securely prevented from unwinding during packaging and transport, but the flap becomes difficult to identify and requires tearing a considerable amount of paper to open the roll

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroll security during packaging and transportVSAvoidease of opening the roll
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous paste line is segmented into a discontinuous pattern with gaps, creating distinct visual sections that help users identify where to tear the flap while maintaining secure attachment at the paste locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The paste line is colored to create visual contrast against the paper, making the flap boundary easily identifiable and guiding users to the correct tearing location without requiring excessive paper removal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If the paste line extends along the entire width of the roll, then the end flap is securely fixed, but the unpasted region needed for easy identification and tearing is reduced or eliminated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveend flap fixationVSAvoiddifficulty of identifying the flap to be torn
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The paste application is segmented to cover only specific portions of the flap width, intentionally leaving unpasted regions that serve as visual indicators and tearing zones, thus balancing fixation security with ease of opening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the flap have different qualities: some areas are pasted for secure attachment while other areas remain unpasted for identification and tearing, optimizing both fixation and usability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP1813178B1Toilet/kitchen paper roll
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 IND CARTARIE TRONCHETTI
  • EP1813178B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

A toilet/kitchen paper roll (1), having a first flap (3) pasted by means of a line of paste (5) which is colored and does not extend along the entire width of the roll (1) so as to facilitate identification of the flap (3) to be torn and facilitate opening.