Sanitary Article Defect Prediction from Production Parameter Anomalies

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for detecting defects in absorbent sanitary articles, such as nappies and sanitary pads, are inefficient, costly, and unreliable, particularly due to the high construction complexity of production lines and articles, making it difficult to identify and prevent defects without advanced inspection devices or laboratory tests.

Innovation Solution

An automated method using sensors to monitor production device parameters, compare them to reference values, and apply decision algorithms to predict defects based on identified malfunctioning causes, without direct article inspection, enabling real-time detection and prevention of defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If advanced inspection devices or laboratory tests are used to detect defects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical inspection devices and laboratory testing systems with a monitoring system that tracks operating parameters of production devices. By substituting direct article inspection with indirect parameter monitoring, the system achieves defect prediction without requiring advanced inspection hardware or laboratory facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces operating parameters as an intermediary between production device operations and defect detection. Instead of directly inspecting articles for defects, the system monitors parameters such as temperature, pressure, and speed of production devices, using these intermediate measurements to predict potential defects through decision algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If direct article inspection is performed to detect defects, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming inspection processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect detection accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary monitoring of operating parameters during the production process itself, rather than inspecting articles after production. By continuously tracking parameters such as temperature, pressure, and speed during manufacturing, the system predicts defects before they occur, eliminating the need for separate inspection steps and maintaining production flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring system operates continuously throughout the production process, tracking operating parameters in real-time without interrupting the production line. This continuous monitoring approach maintains uninterrupted production flow while simultaneously detecting potential defects, unlike batch inspection methods that stop production for quality checks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If multiple operating parameters are monitored to improve defect prediction accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to the complexity of processing multiple parameter streams

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedefect prediction accuracyVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback loops where operating parameters are monitored, compared against reference values, and used to continuously update defect predictions. The system processes multiple parameter streams by feeding them into decision algorithms that integrate the information, comparing current parameter values with historical data and reference values to maintain accurate defect predictions without being overwhelmed by data complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4356887B1Method of predictive detection of defects in absorbent sanitary articles
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 GDM
  • EP4356887B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4356887B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Production line of absorbent sanitary articles and method of predictive detection of defects of absorbent sanitary articles (2), wherein it is provided to: detect current values of operating parameters which are indicative of the current operation of at least one production device (38, 40, 41, 42, 43) adapted to perform respective production operations on the absorbent sanitary articles (2) being processed along the production line (1); perform a comparison between the current values of the detected operating parameters and respective predetermined reference values; in the presence of at least one anomalous operating parameter that does not comply with the respective predetermined reference values, identify, among a plurality of possible malfunctioning causes of the line (1), at least one current malfunctioning cause responsible for said at least one anomalous operating parameter; and make a prediction of any defects in the absorbent sanitary articles being processed along the line (1) starting from said at least one current malfunctioning cause identified.