Aseptic Package Peripheral Heat Sealing for Delamination Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aseptic packaging bags for products like chopped tomatoes and fruit juices face issues with delamination due to condensation during steam sterilization, leading to potential product bursting and contamination through heat sealing weaknesses.
Innovation Solution
The package features a peripheral heat sealing line at the cutting edge of the walls, creating an encapsulation of the layers with plastic material overflow, preventing delamination and ensuring integrity during storage and handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bag is sterilized with jet of steam in the filling mouthpiece area, then sterilization is achieved, but condensation is generated that causes delamination of the metallized layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the peripheral heat sealing at the cutting edge before the bag is subjected to steam sterilization. This pre-established seal creates an encapsulation that prevents condensation from reaching the metallized layer edges during subsequent sterilization, thus preventing delamination while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the plastic material overflow from peripheral heat sealing - that acts as a barrier between the condensation (harmful factor) and the metallized layers. This intermediary encapsulation prevents direct contact between condensation and the vulnerable layer edges, resolving the contradiction between sterilization and layer stability.
2Strength
If the peripheral heat sealing is performed away from the cutting edge, then the sealing is structurally sound, but condensation can penetrate between the films at the cutting edge causing delamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the heat sealing action specifically at the cutting edge region. This creates a localized encapsulation of the layers at the most vulnerable point (where condensation would penetrate), providing targeted protection without compromising overall sealing integrity. The plastic material overflow is generated precisely where needed - at the cutting edge - to prevent harmful factor penetration.
3Reliability
If the bag walls are made with multiple layers including metallized layers, then barrier effect and protection are improved, but the complexity of production and risk of delamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical state and position of the plastic material through controlled heat sealing at the cutting edge. The plastic material is transformed from a static layer structure to an active encapsulation form that flows and seals at the periphery. This parameter change (from static to dynamic sealing) simplifies the overall structure by creating a self-protecting feature during the sealing process itself, without requiring additional complex production steps.
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
This design effectively prevents delamination and maintains the package's integrity during storage and handling, reducing the risk of product loss and contamination, while allowing for competitive manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the peripheral heat sealing line is provided at the cutting edge of the walls, so as to form an encapsulation of the coupled layers at the cutting edge, due to overflow of the plastic material
Implementation Method 2
at least one layer in metallized heat-sealable plastic material or with barrier effect
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
A description is given of a package (10), particularly for aseptic packaging, made up of two opposite facing walls (12) heat sealed one to the other along a peripheral line (S). The walls (12) comprising at least one layer in metallized heat-sealable plastic material (13) or with barrier effect and at least one layer (16) in heat-sealable plastic material. The peripheral heat sealing line (S) is provided at the cutting edge of the walls (12) so as to form an encapsulation (I) of the coupled layers (13, 16) at the cutting edge, due to overflow of the plastic material.