Embossing Hand Tool for Vacuum Bag Air Channel Creation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vacuum packaging bags with smooth inner surfaces are not compatible with home-type vacuum packaging machines, leading to ineffective evacuation and residual oxygen and moisture exposure in perishable items.
Innovation Solution
A tool that embosses a heat sealable plastic bag with a novel pattern of air channels on a small area adjacent to the unsealed edge, allowing effective evacuation even with weak suction from home-type machines, while maintaining a smooth inner surface for minimal residual volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If commercial bags with smooth inner surfaces are used, then the bag can cling tightly to the item and minimize residual volume, but the bag cannot be evacuated effectively with home-type vacuum machines
Solution Approach 1:
The embossed pattern is applied only to a localized region (the headspace area) rather than the entire bag interior. This local modification provides evacuation channels where needed while preserving the smooth clinging surface over most of the bag area, thus minimizing residual volume while enabling effective evacuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The embossed pattern divides the headspace into multiple air channels that facilitate vacuum evacuation. By segmenting the air space into channelled regions, the vacuum can penetrate more effectively through the headspace without requiring the entire bag surface to be non-smooth.
2Reliability
If bags with channels are used to enable evacuation with weak suction, then evacuation becomes possible, but the residual volume increases and oxygen and moisture exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The embossed pattern is applied only to a localized region (the headspace area) rather than the entire bag interior. This local modification provides evacuation channels where needed while preserving the smooth clinging surface over most of the bag area, thus minimizing residual volume while enabling effective evacuation.
3Strength
If the inner bag surface is smooth, then the bag clings tightly to the item, but home-type vacuum machines cannot evacuate the bag effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The embossed pattern is applied only to a localized region (the headspace area) rather than the entire bag interior. This local modification provides evacuation channels where needed while preserving the smooth clinging surface over most of the bag area, thus maintaining cling strength while enabling effective evacuation.
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
Enables effective evacuation of vacuum packaging bags with home-type machines, minimizing residual oxygen and moisture exposure, and ensuring the bag can cling tightly to the item, thus preserving perishables better.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic film has been deformed to form a number of air channels... Providing such an embossed pattern has been found to allow effective evacuation of the bag
Implementation Method 2
inner heat sealable layer and an outer layer... comprised of a heat sealable thermoplastic inner layer
Data Source
AI summary
An embossing hand tool includes a first handle that can be operatively supported by a flat surface. The first handle includes a first embossing die and may also include a changeable indicia supported by a heated axle. A second embossing die may include a resilient pad opposite the changeable indicia. A second handle is coupled to the first handle and to the second embossing die with one of the couplings being a pivotal coupling and the other coupling being a sliding coupling. A link is coupled to the first handle and to the second embossing die with one of the couplings being a pivotal coupling and the other coupling being a sliding coupling. The link is further coupled to the second handle at a pivot point equidistant from the other couplings such that the first embossing die and the second embossing die remain substantially parallel throughout their range of motion.