Laminated Packaging Material with Localized Heat Sealable Portions

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for an improved packaging material that ensures robust seals while reducing the total amount of polymer layer material, as thinner polymer layers are desired for efficiency but must maintain sufficient thickness for effective sealing and barrier properties.

Innovation Solution

A laminated packaging material with a core layer and outermost and innermost layers, featuring a locally applied heat sealable material portion on the innermost layer, which can be applied using various processes such as injection moulding, sintering, or 3D printing, with a cross-section design that increases in width towards the innermost layer to enhance sealing efficiency and reduce material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If the polymer layer thickness is reduced to decrease material usage, then the total amount of polymer material is reduced, but the sealing capability becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymer materialVSAvoidsealing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a locally applied heat sealable material portion at specific sealing areas on the innermost layer, rather than requiring the entire innermost layer to be thick. This concentrates the necessary sealing material exactly where it is needed (at transversal seal positions) while allowing the rest of the innermost layer to be thinner, thus resolving the contradiction between material reduction and sealing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the innermost layer thickness is reduced to reduce material costs, then material usage decreases, but the seal strength becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymer materialVSAvoidseal strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention places a concentrated portion of heat sealable material at specific sealing locations on the innermost layer. This localized concentration ensures sufficient seal strength at critical areas while allowing the overall innermost layer thickness to be reduced, thereby reducing total polymer material usage while maintaining seal strength where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The packaging material uses a composite structure with multiple layers (outermost layer, core layer, innermost layer) with different functional properties. The heat sealable material portion is a specialized composite component applied to the innermost layer, combining the barrier properties of the thin innermost layer with the sealing properties of the concentrated heat sealable material, achieving both material reduction and seal strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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

This solution allows for a thinner innermost layer with robust seals, reducing material costs and environmental impact while maintaining the necessary barrier and sealing properties, enabling efficient and sustainable packaging for liquid food products.

Implementation Method 1

The heat sealable material portion may be adhered to the innermost layer by means of a heat application process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat application: Heating

Implementation Method 2

an innermost layer arranged to face the interior of the packaging container, said outermost layer and said innermost layer being laminated to the core layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3766700B1Packaging material and a manufacturing process thereof
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP3766700B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3766700B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3766700B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A packaging material comprising a core layer (201, 201', 401, 501), an outermost layer (202, 202', 402, 502) arranged to face the exterior of a packaging container made of the packaging material (200, 200', 400, 500), and an innermost layer (203, 203', 403, 503) arranged to face the interior of the packaging container is provided. The outermost layer (202, 202', 402, 502) and said innermost layer (203, 203', 403, 503) are laminated to the core layer (201, 201', 401, 501). The laminated packaging material (200, 200', 400, 500) further comprises a locally distributed heat sealable material portion (204, 204', 404, 504) arranged on the innermost layer (203, 203', 403, 503).