Sealable Enclosure with Micro-Pore Valve for Contaminant-Resistant Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product packaging is inadequate for preventing contamination from ambient contaminants during heating processes, such as baking or sterilization, where gluten, peanut particles, or other allergens can contaminate sensitive products.
Innovation Solution
A sealable enclosure with a micro-pore portion and a heat-sensitive adhesive that allows generated gases to vent out while preventing ambient contaminants from entering, using a micro-pore portion with controlled pore sizes and a heat-sensitive adhesive that releases at a specific temperature to open the enclosure for gas venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the sealable enclosure is completely sealed during heating, then contamination prevention is improved, but gas accumulation causes pressure buildup and potential rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a microporous valve structure that allows selective passage of gases while blocking contaminant particles. The microporous material enables gas venting to relieve pressure buildup while the pore size is controlled to prevent entry of larger contaminant particles, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure management and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The microporous valve acts as an intermediary element between the sealed enclosure and the external environment. It mediates the conflict by allowing gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger contaminant particles, enabling pressure equalization without compromising the sealed barrier against contamination.
2Stress or pressure
If the sealable enclosure allows gas venting during heating, then pressure buildup is prevented, but ambient contaminants can enter the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The microporous valve utilizes a porous material with specifically controlled pore sizes that are large enough to allow gas molecules to pass through for pressure relief but small enough to block larger contaminant particles from entering the enclosure, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure relief and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve structure incorporates localized microporous regions with specific pore size characteristics that differ from the surrounding sealed structure. This local quality difference enables selective permeability - allowing gas passage while maintaining barrier properties against contaminants at the same location.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the enclosure remains sealed throughout the process, then contamination is prevented, but heating efficiency is reduced due to pressure buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The microporous valve maintains a sealed barrier against contamination while providing a controlled pathway for gas escape. This enables sustained heating efficiency by preventing pressure buildup that would otherwise slow down the heating process, without compromising the contamination barrier.
4Stress or pressure
If a traditional vent is used to allow gas escape, then pressure relief is achieved, but contaminant particles can easily enter through the vent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional open vents with a microporous valve structure where the pore sizes are precisely controlled to allow gas molecules to pass through while blocking larger contaminant particles. This resolves the contradiction by providing pressure relief functionality without creating an open pathway for contaminant entry.
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
Effectively prevents contamination of enclosed products by allowing gas venting while maintaining a sterile environment, ensuring the product remains uncontaminated during heating processes.
Implementation Method 1
When the temperature of the strip of heat sensitive adhesive reaches a threshold temperature, the strip of heat sensitive adhesive releases so that fold opens
Implementation Method 2
the gas vents through the micro-pore portion disposed in the film layer out into an ambient region surrounding the sealable enclosure while preventing ambient contaminates in the ambient region from entering into the sealable enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A sealable enclosure is disclosed that is configured to enclose an object that is to be heated, wherein heating of the sealable enclosure with the object sealed therein permits gas generated by the heating to vent out through a first micro-pore portion disposed in a fold of film layer. Initially, the generated gas is retained in the sealable enclosure. When the temperature of the strip of heat sensitive adhesive reaches a threshold temperature, the strip of heat sensitive adhesive releases so that fold opens, wherein the gas vents through the micro-pore portion disposed in the film layer out into an ambient region surrounding the sealable enclosure while preventing ambient contaminates in the ambient region from entering into the sealable enclosure.