Cellulose Tray Packaging with Segmented Brim for Sealing and Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging containers made from cellulose fibers face challenges in achieving proper sealing, easy access to contents, and easy separation of the liner film from the cellulose tray for recycling, leading to inefficiencies and potential hazards during use and recycling processes.
Innovation Solution
The design features a lined tray with a distal portion of the holding tab offset towards the bottom portion, a gripping tab on the lid film overlapping with the holding tab, and a multilayer liner and lid film configuration to minimize adhesion between the cellulose tray and liner film, ensuring easy separation and access while maintaining sealing integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liner film is heat-sealed to the brim to ensure sealing integrity, then the sealing property is improved, but the ease of separation between liner film and cellulose tray deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The brim is segmented into a heat-sealable region (for sealing the liner film) and a non-heat-sealable region (allowing easy separation). This spatial segmentation of functional zones resolves the contradiction by providing both strong sealing where needed and easy separation where required.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the brim are given different thermal properties: the heat-sealable region has properties suitable for bonding to the liner film, while the non-heat-sealable region maintains properties that prevent adhesion. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of sealing integrity and separation ease.
2Ease of operation
If the holding tab is extended to facilitate easy access to contents, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding tab serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, a gripping feature for easy access, and a non-heat-sealable zone that facilitates separation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby managing complexity while improving ease of operation.
3Strength
If the cellulose tray is designed as a rigid structure to maintain shape, then the strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to dry-forming techniques
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process utilizes controlled parameter changes (temperature and pressure) during dry-forming to achieve the desired rigid structure. By optimizing these parameters, the cellulose fibers are bonded effectively to create a strong tray without requiring overly complex manufacturing equipment or processes.
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 enhances the recyclability of the packaging container by allowing easy separation of the lid and liner films from the cellulose tray, ensuring safe and efficient access to contents and maintaining the required sealing properties, thus addressing the limitations of previous solutions.
Implementation Method 1
a lid film that is heat-sealed to said lined tray
Implementation Method 2
a liner film adhered to the rigid cellulose tray in order to act as a barrier in order to enhance the physical properties of the cellulose tray, such as a barrier for gas, grease, flavour, moisture, etc.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Packaging container for accommodating an item therein, and comprises a lined tray and a lid film (25) that is heat-sealed to said lined tray, the lined tray comprising a rigid cellulose tray (2) and a liner film (22), wherein the rigid cellulose tray (2) comprises a bottom portion, a wall connected to the bottom portion, a brim connected to and extending in the radial direction from the upper end of the wall, and a holding tab connected to and extending in the radial direction outwards from the brim, wherein the liner film (22) is adhered to at least an upper surface (20) of the brim and an upper surface (21) of the holding tab.