Method and device for producing a pack for preparing food or beverage products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing flexible packs for preparing food or beverage products are inefficient, costly, and hygienically flawed due to the lack of a tight seal over the insert, which allows oxygen ingress and compromises hygiene and shelf life.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert using synchronized film guiding and sealing means, applying pressure and temperature to achieve a tight seal over the insert's shape except for the part in direct communication with the container's inner volume, ensuring a compact, hygienic, and cost-effective packaging process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If flexible packs are made without a membrane-closed water inlet and without sealing the insert, then the manufacturing process is simple, but hygiene and shelf life are compromised due to oxygen ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flexible membrane to close the water inlet and seal the insert opening. This thin film structure maintains the simplicity of flexible pack manufacturing while providing the necessary barrier function to prevent oxygen ingress and ensure hygiene, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the spout is sealed with the flexible container using conventional methods, then the sealing process is straightforward, but oxygen can enter through points or paths at the seal, compromising hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane extends to and seals against the flexible container at the spout area, creating a continuous barrier that eliminates oxygen ingress paths while maintaining sealing simplicity through the membrane's conformability to the insert shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane is separated as a distinct component that specifically addresses the sealing function, allowing the main flexible container structure to remain simple while the membrane provides the targeted oxygen barrier at critical sealing points.
3Strength
If rigid or semi-rigid capsules are used, then structural strength is maintained, but more material is used increasing production cost and storage space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid or semi-rigid capsule structures with a flexible membrane and foldable container system. This substitution maintains sufficient structural strength for the application while dramatically reducing material quantity and enabling compact storage when empty, directly addressing the contradiction between strength and material efficiency.
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 a fast, automatic, and reliable sealing process that reduces material usage, minimizes leakage risks, and optimizes equipment costs while ensuring a tight, hygienic seal that maintains product freshness.
Implementation Method 1
applying by the bottom sealing tool and by the side sealing tools a certain required pressure and temperature to achieve a tight sealing of the flexible sheet over the entirety of the insert
Implementation Method 2
applying by the bottom sealing tool and by the side sealing tools a certain required pressure and temperature to achieve a tight sealing of the flexible sheet
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients; the pack comprising an insert (10) and a container (20) made from the flexible sheet folded to store the one or more ingredients, the flexible sheet being arranged overwrapping and matching the shape of the insert (10) in its entirety except for the part of the insert (10) in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20); the method comprising the following steps: —holding the insert (10) so that it is substantially perpendicular with respect to the flexible sheet; —moving the insert (10) towards the flexible sheet, until it touches a bottom sealing tool (210); —moving at least two side sealing tools (220, 230) towards the insert (10); —applying by the bottom sealing tool (210) and by the side sealing tools (220, 230) a certain required pressure and temperature to achieve a tight sealing of the flexible sheet over the entirety of the insert (10) except for the part of it in direct communication with the inner volume of the container (20). The invention further relates to a device (200) for wrapping and sealing a flexible sheet over an insert (10) to produce a pack (100) for preparing a food or beverage product from one or more ingredients.