Wet Wipe Packaging Line With In-Process UV Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unsterilized wet paper towels pose risks of bacterial and viral contamination, skin sensitivity, reduced product quality, and environmental impact due to microbial contamination and preservatives.
Innovation Solution
A packaging machine structure with a rolling unit, cutting unit, packing unit, and germicidal lamps between the rolling and cutting units to sterilize wet paper towels before packaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wet paper towels are packaged without sterilization, then production cost and process simplicity are maintained, but bacterial and viral contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sterilization function with the existing packaging machine by integrating germicidal lamps into the packaging process. The sterilization unit is merged with the rolling, cutting, and packing units to form an integrated system that performs both packaging and sterilization in one continuous process, eliminating the need for separate sterilization equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The germicidal lamps serve as an intermediary element that introduces sterilization capability into the packaging process. These lamps are positioned within the packaging machine to irradiate the wet paper towels during processing, acting as a mediating agent that enables sterilization without requiring fundamental changes to the packaging machine architecture.
2Reliability
If wet paper towels are sterilized using germicidal lamps, then microbial contamination is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization process is performed preliminarily during the packaging process itself, before the product reaches the consumer. By integrating sterilization into the manufacturing flow, the system ensures product safety is established early, preventing microbial contamination before it can occur during storage and distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The germicidal lamps operate continuously throughout the packaging process, maintaining constant sterilization action as wet paper towels move through the machine. This continuous irradiation ensures comprehensive microbial elimination without requiring additional energy-intensive post-processing steps.
3Reliability
If wet paper towels undergo sterilization process, then product quality is improved, but production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization function is merged with the existing packaging operations (rolling, cutting, packing) to create an integrated process flow. This combination allows sterilization to occur simultaneously with packaging operations, eliminating sequential processing steps and maintaining production efficiency while ensuring product quality.
Solution Approach 2:
Sterilization is performed as a preliminary action during the packaging process itself, before products are completed and shipped. This timing ensures quality is established early in the production flow, preventing the need for additional quality control steps later that would extend production time.
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
Ensures thorough sterilization of wet paper towels, preventing microbial contamination, reducing the need for additives, and enhancing product quality and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
at least one germicidal lamp is disposed between the rolling unit and the cutting unit to sterilize the wet paper towels
Data Source
AI summary
A packaging machine structure for wet paper towels having a sterilizing functionality has at least one rolling unit, a cutting unit attached behind the rolling unit, and a packing unit attached behind the cutting unit; a plurality of wet paper towels passing through the rolling unit, the cutting unit, and the packing unit to become a plurality of wet paper towel packs; wherein at least one germicidal lamp is disposed between the rolling unit and the cutting unit to sterilize the wet paper towels.