Wadding Carrier Sheet for Oral Pouches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pouched products for oral use often fail to provide a soft and appealing mouthfeel, hindered by the absorption of liquid, which affects the transport and handling of the products and the release of active agents, and the manufacturing process is not optimized for efficiency and environmental friendliness.

Innovation Solution

A pouched product featuring a saliva-permeable pouch with a single wadding carrier sheet made of wadding fibers having a contact angle of 50° or higher with water, which prevents liquid absorption and allows for a lightweight, airy structure that enhances the release of active agents, along with a method for manufacturing that minimizes dusting and spillage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional filling materials are used in pouched products, then the products can be manufactured with standard materials, but the mouthfeel is not soft and appealing and the products absorb liquid which affects handling and active agent release

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemouthfeelVSAvoidliquid absorption control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by specifying that wadding fibers must have a contact angle with water of 50° or higher. This parameter change in fiber hydrophobicity prevents liquid absorption while maintaining softness and appeal, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation (mouthfeel) and reliability (liquid absorption control).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining wadding fibers with specific contact angle properties with the active agent-containing composition. This composite structure provides both the soft, appealing mouthfeel of wadding material and the liquid absorption control through hydrophobic fiber properties, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the pouch structure is made lightweight and airy for quick active agent release, then active agent release is improved, but the structural integrity and shape maintenance may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive agent release speedVSAvoidshape maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies porous materials by using wadding fibers that provide an airy, open structure. This porous structure enables quick active agent release while the specific arrangement and hydrophobic properties of the fibers maintain structural integrity and shape, resolving the contradiction between productivity (release speed) and stability (shape maintenance).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by specifying the contact angle of wadding fibers (50° or higher) which allows the material to maintain structural stability while being sufficiently open and airy for rapid active agent release. This parameter specification resolves the contradiction between productivity and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If hydrophobic wadding fibers with high contact angle are used to prevent liquid absorption, then handling and transport is facilitated, but the manufacturing process becomes more specialized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid absorption resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by defining a specific range for the contact angle (50° or higher) rather than requiring extreme hydrophobicity. This moderate parameter specification achieves liquid absorption resistance while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the pouch is designed to conform to gum shape for comfort, then mouthfeel is improved, but the structural requirements become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegum conformityVSAvoidpouch structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies flexible shells and thin films by using a pouch made of flexible material that can conform to the gum shape. This flexibility allows the pouch to adapt to oral anatomy for improved mouthfeel without requiring complex internal structures, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution results in a soft, lightweight pouched product that maintains its shape, facilitates easy handling and transport, and allows for quick and effective release of active agents, while improving the manufacturing process and reducing environmental impact.

Implementation Method 1

The wadding fibers may have a contact angle with water of 50° and above or preferably 60° and above, preferably 70° and above or most preferably 80° and above, or most preferred 90° and above

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Data Source

PatentEP4491036A1A pouched product for oral use
Publication Date: 2025.01.15 SWEDISH MATCH NORTH EURO
  • EP4491036A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4491036A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4491036A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a pouched product for oral use, comprising a filling material and a saliva-permeable pouch enclosing the filling material, wherein the filling material comprises a single carrier sheet and an active agent, wherein the single carrier sheet is constituted by a single wadding carrier sheet comprising or consisting of wadding fibers. Further, the present disclosure relates to method for manufacturing a pouched product for oral use, the method comprising: - providing and advancing a web of a packaging material 10, the web of packaging material 10 advancing in a direction of travel DT; - providing a web of a wadding carrier sheet 11 onto the web of packaging material 10; and - sealing together and cutting through the web of packaging material 10 and the web of the wadding carrier sheet 11, in a direction transverse O to the direction of travel DT, to provide a plurality of pouches.