Laminated Container Seal with Removable Tab
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing members for containers often fail to provide a strong and reliable removal mechanism, with adhesive layers potentially failing during tab removal, leading to incomplete detachment from the container.
Innovation Solution
A sealing member design featuring a polyethylene or polypropylene foam or film layer bonded to a metal foil layer, with a PET tab defining layer and additional PET layers that are not adhesively bonded to the foam or film layer, forming a strong and removable tab structure secured by a high-strength adhesive resin and catalyst, facilitating easy removal without heat damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hot melt bonding material or adhesive layer is used to bond the sealing member to the container, then the sealing member can be securely attached to the container, but the adhesive layer may fail during tab removal, leading to incomplete detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into two distinct zones: a heat seal zone with strong adhesive bonding for secure attachment to the container, and a tab zone with reduced or no adhesive bonding for easy manual removal. This segmentation allows the sealing member to fulfill both functions of secure sealing and easy removal without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive layer is applied with varying properties across different regions of the sealing member. The heat seal portion receives strong hot melt adhesive bonding for reliable attachment, while the tab portion has reduced adhesive presence or different bonding characteristics that facilitate manual removal without damaging the tab or leaving residue.
2Strength
If the tab is made from materials that are not adhesively bonded to the foam or film layer, then the tab structure remains intact during removal, but the tab may detach from the sealing member before complete removal
Solution Approach 1:
The PET tab defining layer is strategically positioned and selectively bonded only in specific regions. The tab area itself has no adhesive bonding to the foam layer, preserving tab integrity, while adjacent regions maintain bonding to ensure the tab remains attached to the sealing member body during the removal process.
Solution Approach 2:
The polyethylene or polypropylene foam layer serves as an intermediary between the heat sealant layer and the PET tab defining layer. This foam layer provides a transition zone that allows the tab to be structurally independent while remaining functionally connected to the sealing member through the multi-layer construction.
3Reliability
If induction heating is applied to seal the sealing member to the container, then strong sealing is achieved, but heat-induced damage may occur to the tab materials
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with differential thermal properties across its layers. The metal foil and heat sealant layers have high thermal conductivity and heat resistance, allowing them to withstand induction heating for strong sealing. The PET tab defining layer is positioned and configured to minimize heat exposure, maintaining its structural integrity during the sealing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab structure is pre-configured with materials and bonding characteristics that are specifically selected to resist the thermal conditions of induction heating. The PET layers and foam structure are chosen for their thermal stability, ensuring the tab remains undamaged before the sealing operation occurs.
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 a strong, reliable, and easy-to-remove sealing member that maintains container integrity and prevents heat-induced damage to the tab, enhancing the sealing process and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a heat actuated sealant layer for securing the sealing member to a container
Implementation Method 2
bonds being established by an adhesive resin and catalyst chosen to provide a high bonding strength sufficient to hold against a manually generated force
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 6
AI summary
A sealing member (500) for a container comprises a heat actuated sealant or adhesive layer (522) for securing the sealing member to a container, a metal foil layer (510) over and covering and adhesively bonded to the heat actuated sealant or adhesive layer, and a polyethylene or polypropylene foam or film layer (508) over and covering and adhesively bonded to the foil layer. In addition, a first PET tab (506) defining layer lies over and covers at least a portion of, but is not adhesively bonded to at least part of that portion of, the polyethylene or polypropylene foam or film layer. Also a polypropylene film layer (504) lies over and covers and is adhesively bonded to both the portion of the polyethylene or polypropylene foam or film layer not covered by the first PET tab defining layer and also to the first PET tab defining layer itself, the bonds being established by an adhesive. resin (51S) and catalyst chosen to provide a high bonding strength sufficient to hold against a manually generated force. A second PET layer (502) lies, over and covers and adhesively bonds to the polypropylene film layer. The first PET tab defining layer and the portions of the propylene film and second PET layers immediately above and adhesively bonded to the first PET tab defining layer serve as a tab to facilitate removal of the sealing member from a container to which it has been adhered.