Folded Laminate Food Container Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food packaging systems, such as glass jars and cans, face issues with space inefficiency, high production energy consumption, weight, and safety concerns, while laminated containers require expensive sealing strips and have moisture penetration risks at seams.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using a folded planar composite with specific layer sequences and fixing elements to create a container with reduced production time, cost, and components, achieving gas- or liquid-tight seals without additional plastic barriers, minimizing seams exposed to foodstuffs, and enhancing process stability and leakproofness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional glass jars and cans are used for food packaging, then food preservation and sealing are achieved, but space efficiency is poor, production energy consumption is high, weight is considerable, and safety concerns arise from sharp edges and glass splinters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from traditional heavy materials (glass, metal) to lightweight laminate materials consisting of multiple thin layers including paperboard, plastic films, and aluminum foil. This parameter change achieves both weight reduction and maintained sealing performance through the composite structure's inherent barrier properties
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite laminate materials combining multiple layers with different functions: paperboard for structural integrity, plastic films for flexibility and sealing, aluminum foil for barrier protection. This composite approach replaces heavy single-material packaging while maintaining or improving preservation and sealing capabilities
2Reliability
If conventional glass jars and cans are used, then food preservation is achieved, but production energy consumption is high and transportation costs increase due to weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the production method parameters from high-energy processes (glass blowing, metal stamping) to lower-energy laminate formation and sealing processes. The laminate structure can be produced at lower temperatures and with less energy input, significantly reducing production energy consumption while maintaining food preservation functionality
3Ease of manufacture
If laminated containers are made with folded laminate and sealed end regions, then container formation is achieved, but moisture can penetrate into the carrier layer at the bordering edge of the longitudinal seam
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function into two parts: the folded laminate structure provides the basic container formation, while a separate sealing strip applied at the longitudinal seam provides the moisture barrier. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing strip acts as an intermediary element between the folded laminate layers at the longitudinal seam. This intermediate sealing layer prevents moisture penetration into the carrier layer while allowing the folded laminate structure to maintain its ease of manufacture and container formation capabilities
4Reliability
If a sealing strip is applied over the longitudinal seam to prevent moisture penetration, then moisture barrier is improved, but production costs increase due to additional components and sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing strip is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the moisture barrier at the longitudinal seam, reinforces the seam structure, and facilitates the sealing process. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby lowering overall device complexity despite the added sealing function
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device comprising a first fixing element, a further fixing element and a folded planar composite;wherein the first fixing element comprises a first fixing surface and the further fixing element comprises a further fixing surface;wherein the folded planar composite is at least partially fixed between the first fixing surface and the further fixing surface;wherein the folded planar composite comprises a first composite region;wherein the first composite region comprises a first layer sequence comprising a first composite layer comprising a first carrier layer, a second composite layer comprising a second carrier layer, a third composite layer comprising a third carrier layer and a fourth composite layer comprising a fourth carrier layer;wherein in the first composite region the second composite layer is joined to the third composite layer and the third composite layer is joined to the fourth composite layer;wherein in the first composite region the third carrier layer is characterised by a smaller layer thickness than in each case one selected from the group consisting of the first carrier layer, the second carrier layer and the fourth carrier layer or a combination of at least two of these;wherein the first fixing surface or the further fixing surface or both comprises a recess comprising a first recess region;wherein the first composite region is located at least partially between the first recess region and the first fixing surface or the further fixing surface.