Biodegradable Fiber Portion Container with Barrier Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic products, particularly in packaging materials, to reduce plastic pollution, and existing methods for manufacturing biodegradable portioning containers from natural fibers lack efficiency, flexibility, and quality in production.
Innovation Solution
The development of biodegradable portioning containers made from molded fiber systems using a pulp-based liquid solution with a biodegradable fiber material, incorporating a barrier layer system to prevent moisture, aroma, and non-food-grade substance penetration, and a manufacturing process that includes molding, pre-pressing, and hot-pressing to ensure dimensional stability and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional plastics are used for portioning containers, then manufacturing efficiency and flexibility are high, but environmental pollution and waste generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional plastics to molded fiber material made from natural fibers suspended in liquid solution. This fundamental material parameter change eliminates plastic pollution while enabling new manufacturing approaches that achieve both environmental sustainability and production efficiency through automated molding processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining natural fibers with liquid solution (water or organic solvent) to create a moldable fiber material. This composite approach allows the material to be shaped into complex container forms while maintaining biodegradability and eliminating the need for conventional plastics
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biodegradable fiber material is used for portioning containers, then environmental sustainability improves, but manufacturing complexity and process difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the fiber material in a liquid solution before molding. The fibers are suspended and distributed in the liquid phase, allowing them to be easily molded into complex shapes. After molding, the liquid solution is removed through drying or pressing, leaving the final container form. This preliminary suspension and molding approach simplifies the overall manufacturing process despite the complexity of working with natural fibers
3Stability of the object's composition
If molded fiber material with low liquid solution content is used, then dimensional stability improves, but manufacturing flexibility and ease of molding decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by changing the moisture content dynamically during the manufacturing process. The fiber material starts with high liquid solution content for easy molding and shaping, then progressively reduces moisture through controlled drying or pressing stages. This dynamic adjustment of liquid content allows the material to transition from a moldable state to a dimensionally stable final product, resolving the contradiction between ease of molding and dimensional stability
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 enables the reproducible, flexible, and high-quality production of biodegradable portioning containers that are dimensionally stable and suitable for various applications, with a low liquid solution content, ensuring effective barrier properties and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
at least the receptacle, preferably also the cover, is provided with a barrier layer system which has a barrier effect at least against penetration of moisture, water, aromatic substances, flavoring agents, odorants, and/or non-food-grade substances
Implementation Method 2
at least the receptacle, preferably also the cover, is manufactured from biodegradable fiber material using a molded fiber system by means of a molded fiber process, in particular a molded fiber process according to the invention as per claim 37, from a pulp as a liquid solution containing the biodegradable fiber material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a portioning container (1) made of biodegradable fiber material (11), to a molded fiber system (100), and to a method (200) for manufacturing such portioning containers (1), comprising a receptacle (2) for holding a consumable (G, G′) and a cover (6) for closing the receptacle to produce a sealed volume (V) within the portioning container (1), wherein at least the receptacle (2), preferably also the cover (6), is manufactured from biodegradable fiber material (11) using a molded fiber system (100) by means of a molded fiber process, from a pulp (7, 7a, 7b) as a liquid solution containing the biodegradable fiber material (11), wherein at least the receptacle (2), preferably also the cover (6), is provided with a barrier layer system (8) which has a barrier effect at least against penetration of moisture, water, aromatic substances, flavoring agents, odorants, and/or non-food-grade substances.