Absorbent Pad with Porous Fibrous Web for Vacuum Seal Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food packaging solutions for products that exude juice, such as meat, often experience seal ruptures during rapid atmosphere evacuation, causing absorbent material to escape and adhere to the product, leading to an undesirable appearance.
Innovation Solution
A case-ready package design featuring an absorbent pad enveloped by upper and lower webs affixed around the perimeter, with a fibrous web structure that allows atmospheric escape without rupture, utilizing hydrophobic fibers with hydrophilic compositions to enhance liquid absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the absorbent pad is enveloped by upper and lower films affixed around the periphery, then the absorbent material is contained and does not escape during evacuation, but the seal may rupture during rapid atmosphere evacuation
Solution Approach 1:
The lower web is constructed as a porous fibrous web that allows atmospheric escape during evacuation while maintaining seal integrity. The porous structure enables gas permeability without compromising the mechanical strength of the seal, resolving the contradiction between containing absorbent material and allowing atmosphere evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbent pad uses a composite structure combining upper web (flexible film), lower web (porous fibrous web), and absorbent layer. This composite design integrates the containment capability of films with the gas-permeable, strength-retaining properties of porous fibrous materials, allowing simultaneous achievement of seal integrity and atmospheric escape.
2Strength
If the lower web is made of porous fibrous material allowing atmospheric escape, then the seal does not rupture during evacuation, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lower web utilizes porous fibrous material that inherently provides both gas permeability and structural integrity. The porous structure allows atmospheric escape while maintaining seal strength, and the material's natural properties eliminate the need for additional complex reinforcement structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower web's porosity parameter is optimized to balance gas permeability with mechanical strength. By controlling the pore size and distribution in the fibrous material, the design achieves atmospheric escape without requiring complex structural modifications, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
3Shape
If the absorbent pad is positioned under the meat product, then the absorbent material is hidden and does not affect appearance, but the pad may rupture and expose the product to contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbent pad is designed as a disposable component that remains positioned under the product throughout the packaging lifecycle. Its single-use design ensures it maintains its containment function until the package is opened, preventing contaminant exposure while preserving appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower web's porous fibrous structure provides both absorbency and structural integrity to prevent rupture. This allows the pad to remain hidden under the product, maintaining appearance, while the porous material ensures the pad does not rupture and expose the product to contaminants during evacuation and storage.
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 package effectively prevents absorbent material from escaping during evacuation, maintaining a clean appearance and preventing bacterial growth by ensuring the absorbent layer remains intact, effectively managing juice absorption and maintaining product freshness.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing hydrophobic fibers with hydrophilic compositions to enhance liquid absorption
Implementation Method 2
absorbent layer between the upper sheet and the lower sheet
Implementation Method 3
a fibrous web structure that allows atmospheric escape without rupture
Data Source
AI summary
A case-ready package has a support member, a lid, and an absorbent pad capable of withstanding sudden evacuation without rupture. The absorbent pad has upper and lower webs enveloping an absorbent layer, with the upper and lower webs adhered to one another around the periphery of the pad. The lower web is a permeable web comprising fiber. The fiber is preferably hydrophobic, and preferably has a hydrophilic composition thereon. The invention also pertains to a packaging process and packaged product using the absorbent pad.