Sachet Packaging Thruster with Leaflet Support Plane

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging apparatuses face issues with inserting illustrative leaflets alongside sachets into containers, often resulting in blockages or malfunctions, especially when sachets are stacked on multiple levels, due to instability and entanglement.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a thruster device with independent drive members and support planes to selectively thrust sachets and leaflets into containers, ensuring the leaflet is wrapped around the sachets, maintaining stability and preventing blockages, and allowing for sachets to be inserted on multiple levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the illustrative leaflet is inserted into the container together with the sachets using a thruster device, then the packaging operation can be performed simultaneously, but the leaflet causes blockages or becomes entangled, preventing correct insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging speedVSAvoidinsertion reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the illustrative leaflet on the support surface before the sachets are thrust into the container. The leaflet is placed in advance on the support surface at a position that allows it to be correctly positioned relative to the sachets during the thrusting operation, preventing blockages and entanglement while maintaining simultaneous packaging capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support surface acts as an intermediary element between the thruster device and the container opening. This support surface provides a stable platform for positioning both the sachets and the illustrative leaflet, enabling coordinated movement during the thrusting operation and preventing direct interference between the leaflet and sachets that would cause blockages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the illustrative leaflet is inserted after the sachets, then blockages are avoided, but an additional operating station is required, making the apparatus more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion reliabilityVSAvoidapparatus complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the insertion of the illustrative leaflet with the sachet insertion operation by using a single thruster device that can thrust both types of objects simultaneously. The support surface enables the leaflet to be positioned and thrust together with the sachets in one coordinated operation, eliminating the need for a separate station for leaflet insertion while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If the sachets are inserted on multiple vertical levels, then the container can be filled more efficiently, but the illustrative leaflet becomes unstable and can slip or jam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer filling efficiencyVSAvoidleaflet stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by positioning the illustrative leaflet on the support surface in advance before the multi-level sachet insertion. The leaflet is placed in a predetermined position that allows it to remain stable throughout the thrusting operation, even when sachets are being inserted on multiple vertical levels, preventing slipping or jamming

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support surface serves as a stable intermediary platform that holds the illustrative leaflet in place during the multi-level sachet insertion process. This support surface provides a reference position for the leaflet that remains stable relative to the moving sachets, preventing the leaflet from slipping or jamming against the package or machine parts

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

This solution enables reliable and efficient insertion of sachets and leaflets into containers, reducing machine downtime and ensuring compliant packaging, with the leaflet positioned for easy access when the container is opened.

Implementation Method 1

a thruster device configured to thrust the sachets from the housing drawer into the container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3953257B1Apparatus and method for packaging sachets into a container
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 UNIVERSAL PACK SRL
  • EP3953257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3953257B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3953257B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

Apparatus to package sachets (S) inside containers (P) comprising a first feed line (11) to feed sachets (S) comprising a plurality of housing drawers (13) suitable to support sachets (S) pre-ordered in order to be introduced inside the containers (P), a second feed line (12) of containers (P) comprising a transporter device (32) which moves the containers (P). The apparatus also comprises a distributor case (16) interposed between the housing drawer (13) and the transporter device (32), and configured to supply objects (L), for example configured as an illustrative leaflet, a thruster device (17) configured to thrust the sachets (S) from the housing drawer (13) into the container (P), and a packaging station (PS) in which a direction of introduction (Z) is defined, parallel to which the thruster device (17) is mobile to thrust the sachets (S) and the objects (T), respectively from one of the housing drawers (13) and from the distributor case (16), toward the inside of a respective container (P).