Compostable Beverage Cartridge Sealing With Minimal Heat-Seal Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cartridges for preparing beverages, such as coffee, use non-compostable thermo-fusible materials like polyethylene for heat sealing, leading to excessive material usage, increased costs, and environmental impact, despite the growing consumer demand for compostable packaging.
Innovation Solution
The cartridges employ compostable foils made of materials like cellulose paper or nonwoven cellulose fibers, connected using a compostable thermo-fusible material that is limited to areas where heat sealing is necessary, optimizing material use and ensuring compliance with compostability standards like UNI EN 13432.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-compostable thermo-fusible materials like polyethylene are used for heat sealing, then the foils can be connected together effectively, but the cartridge cannot be considered compostable and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional polyethylene to compostable thermo-fusible materials such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). This parameter change maintains the heat sealing functionality while enabling the cartridge to meet compostability standards, thus resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures where compostable foils are combined with compostable thermo-fusible materials. This composite approach ensures both the sealing function and the overall compostability of the cartridge, as the thermo-fusible material integrates with the compostable foil structure rather than being a separate non-compostable component.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compostable materials are used throughout the cartridge, then the cartridge becomes compostable, but material selection and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cartridge into distinct functional zones: the foil body made of compostable material and the sealing areas using compostable thermo-fusible material. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall compostability, simplifying the manufacturing process by treating different areas with appropriate materials rather than requiring a completely new compostable material for the entire structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The compostable thermo-fusible material acts as an intermediary between the compostable foils, enabling their connection without requiring complex bonding processes. This intermediary material simplifies manufacturing by providing a straightforward heat sealing mechanism that is compatible with compostable materials, avoiding the need for adhesives or mechanical fasteners.
3Reliability
If thermo-fusible material is deposited randomly throughout the foils, then connection is enabled, but excessive material usage increases costs and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the thermo-fusible material specifically at the sealing zones where connection is required, rather than random deposition throughout the entire foil. This localized application ensures reliable connection at critical points while minimizing material usage in non-critical areas, reducing both cost and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying thermo-fusible material only to the extent necessary for effective sealing, rather than excessive random deposition. This partial application provides sufficient connection capability for the cartridge's functional requirements while avoiding material waste, thereby reducing costs and environmental burden.
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 solution results in a fully compostable cartridge that meets environmental standards, reducing waste and costs by minimizing unnecessary material usage while maintaining functionality in preparing beverages.
Implementation Method 1
the foils in question are connected together via heat sealing
Implementation Method 2
a random deposition of fibres of a thermo-fusible material, such as for example polyethylene
Data Source
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AI summary
A cartridge (10) for preparing a liquid product, for example a beverage such as coffee by introducing liquid and/or steam into the cartridge (10) contains a dose (12) of at least one substance, such as for example powdered coffee, which is able to form the aforesaid product using said liquid and/or steam. The dose is enclosed between foils (14, 16) that can be traversed by the aforesaid liquid and/or steam, said foils (14, 16) being connected together around the dose (12). The aforesaid foils (14, 16) are made of compostable material, i.e., a material that can be recovered by composting and biodegradation, and are connected together around the dose (12) using a connecting material (30), which is also compostable. The cartridge as a whole can hence be recovered by composting and biodegradation, in compliance with the European Norm UNI EN 13432:2002 and/or subsequent modifications and integrations thereof.