Snuff Pouch Surface Features for Visual Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Packing different types of snuff pouches in one snuff packaging is difficult due to manufacturing at different production lines or times, requiring complex processes and manual labor.

Innovation Solution

An oral snuff product featuring a saliva-permeable sheet material with surface features that alter its surface characteristics, allowing for visual identification and efficient sorting and packing of different types of snuff products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If different types of snuff pouches are packed in one snuff packaging, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to complicated manufacturing processes and equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing visual identifiers (surface features) on the saliva-permeable sheet material before the pouches are manufactured and packed. These surface features enable automatic sorting and identification during the packing process, allowing different types of pouches to be efficiently sorted and packed together without requiring complex manufacturing processes or manual labor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If different types of snuff pouches are packed in one snuff packaging, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to manual labor requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking efficiencyVSAvoidsorting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses surface features (visual identifiers) on the saliva-permeable sheet material that can be detected by automatic sorting equipment. These surface features provide clear visual differentiation between different pouch types, enabling precise automatic sorting without manual labor, thereby maintaining both high productivity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of operation

If visual identifiers are added to saliva-permeable sheet material, then ease of operation is improved for sorting and packing, but device complexity increases due to additional manufacturing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesorting easeVSAvoidmanufacturing equipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by incorporating visual identifiers directly into the saliva-permeable sheet material during its manufacturing process. The sheet material itself carries the identification information needed for sorting, eliminating the need for separate labeling equipment or complex additional manufacturing steps. This enables automatic sorting and packing operations to proceed efficiently with simpler equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The visual identifiers enable easy identification and sorting of snuff products, simplifying the manufacturing and packaging process, and enhancing safety by allowing visual verification of product types.

Implementation Method 1

The saliva-permeable sheet material is arranged to form a snuff pouch and enclose the filling material inside the snuff pouch... allowing saliva to pass into the pouch and allowing snuff, or ingredients thereof, to diffuse into a mouth of the user

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP4537677A1Oral snuff product and method for manufacturing oral snuff product
Publication Date: 2025.04.16 WELLGIO MEDICAL OY LTD
  • EP4537677A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4537677A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4537677A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to an oral snuff product and a method for manufacturing the same. The oral snuff product comprises a filling material (2), and a saliva-permeable sheet material (20) arranged to form a snuff pouch (10). The saliva-permeable sheet material (20) is arranged to form outer surface of the snuff pouch (10) and provide surface characteristics of the outer surface (17) of the snuff pouch (10). The saliva-permeable sheet material (20) is provided with one or more surface features (30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39), the one or more surface features (30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39) being configured to alter the surface characteristics of the outer surface (17) of the snuff pouch (10) provided by the saliva-permeable sheet material (20) for generating visual identifier to the snuff pouch (10).