Check Valve Structure for Air-Packing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shock-absorbing packaging materials like styrofoam have drawbacks such as non-recyclability, brittleness, and high production and storage costs, necessitating the development of alternative materials like air-packing devices that require innovative check valve structures for improved reliability and reduced size.
Innovation Solution
The air-packing device incorporates a check valve structure with upper and lower thermoplastic films, featuring peeling agents and heat-seals to create a common air duct, allowing for flexible placement and reducing the size of each air cell, while maintaining reliability and preventing reverse air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional styrofoam is used as packing material, then thermal insulation and light weight are achieved, but recyclability is poor, brittleness causes chips and dust, and production and storage costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and composition of the packing material from solid foam to inflatable air-filled structure made of flexible film, transforming it from brittle to ductile while maintaining light weight
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite structure combining flexible thermoplastic film with trapped air, creating a material that exhibits both the light weight of air and the structural integrity of reinforced film
2Reliability
If air-packing device is used instead of styrofoam, then recyclability and reduction of chips/dust are improved, but device complexity increases due to need for check valves and air containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the check valve structure with the air container walls by forming the valve from the same thermoplastic film material, eliminating separate valve components and simplifying the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The thermoplastic film serves multiple functions simultaneously: it forms the air container walls, creates the check valve structure, provides sealing surfaces, and enables the one-way air flow function, reducing the need for specialized components
3Reliability
If multiple independent air containers with check valves are used to improve reliability, then shock absorption reliability is improved, but the size of each air cell increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple air containers within a single inflated structure, allowing multiple independent shock-absorbing chambers to occupy the volume of what would traditionally require larger individual containers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention arranges air containers in a three-dimensional configuration within the inflated packet, efficiently utilizing space to accommodate multiple independent cells without increasing the overall packet volume
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 configuration enables a compact, reliable, and cost-effective air-packing device with reduced air cell size, offering improved shock absorption and flexibility in design, capable of replacing conventional air bubble packing materials.
Implementation Method 1
each check-valve 24 prevents the reverse flow of the air
Implementation Method 2
The thermoplastic films of the air-packing device 20 are bonded (heat-sealed) together at bonding areas 23a
Data Source
AI summary
A check valve for an air-packing device comprises upper and lower check valve films that are placed between upper and lower packing films that form the air-packing device contour. The check valve can be advantageously used for the air-packing device having a multiplicity of air containers. A common air duct that allows compressed air to flow into each air container through the check valve is formed between the upper and lower check valve films independently from other films such that the check valve can be placed flexibly in the air-packing device. Peeling agents are applied between the upper and lower check valve films to create the common air duct by preventing heat-sealing between the films.