Foil Bag Printed Material Section Segmentation for Recyclability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional film packaging bags with laminated composite materials are not recyclable due to the lamination of different polymer materials, leading to disposal issues, while single-origin plastic waste can be recycled but is hindered by printing ink, necessitating a solution for high-quality appearance and recyclability.
Innovation Solution
A film bag design where the material section extends over at least 80% of the front wall with a continuous, closed frame-like connecting seam, preventing premature tearing and allowing for separate recycling of the bag film and printed material section, which can be sorted using thickness differences for effective recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laminated composite materials are used for high-quality appearance and functionality, then the bag wall provides good functional properties and appearance, but pure plastic recycling becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bag structure into two separate parts: a laminated composite front wall (with print layer) and a single-material bag body. This segmentation allows the printed front wall to be detached and recycled separately from the bag body, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high-quality appearance functionality and enabling recyclability.
Solution Approach 2:
The printed laminated composite material is extracted as a separate component (front wall) from the main bag body. This extracted portion can be removed and processed separately through appropriate recycling channels, while the bag body remains as recyclable single-origin plastic material.
2Ease of manufacture
If single-origin plastic is used for easy recycling, then recycling becomes simple, but printing ink hinders the formation of high-quality recycling products
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is segmented into a printed front wall and an unprinted bag body made from single-origin plastic. The unprinted bag body can be recycled into high-quality products without ink contamination, while the printed front wall is separated and processed through different recycling channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The printed material section is extracted as a separate component that can be removed from the bag body. This extraction eliminates the harmful effect of printing ink on the recycling quality of the main bag body, allowing the bag body to be recycled into high-quality single-origin plastic products.
3Ease of manufacture
If the material section is attached with seams that allow separation for recycling, then recycling is facilitated, but the bag may get caught on obstacles during transport or handling
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting seam is designed with local quality differentiation: it provides strong attachment in most areas to prevent premature tearing during transport, while incorporating specific weak points or separation zones that allow easy detachment for recycling purposes. This resolves the contradiction between transport stability and recycling facilitation.
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 design ensures the printed material is securely attached during use and transport, reducing soiling and enabling high-quality recycling by separating the bag film and printed section, resulting in a significant proportion of recyclable material.
Implementation Method 1
permanent, non-separable connecting seam in the form of heat-sealed seams
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a foil bag with a bag body (2) made of a bag film having at least two opposing front walls (1), wherein a printed material section (3) is attached to one of the front walls (1) by a permanent, non-separable seam (4) and partially rests on the associated front wall (1) without being connected, the material section (3) being thinner than the bag film. According to the invention, the material section (3) covers at least 80% of the area of the associated front wall (1) and the seam (4) forms a closed, frame-like border around an edge of the material section (3).