Microwave Pouch Self-Venting Mechanism for Steam Release and Spurtage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave pouches with existing self-venting mechanisms face issues where small vent holes prevent sufficient steam discharge, leading to potential pouch deformation, while larger vent holes can cause content spurtage.
Innovation Solution
A microwave pouch with a self-venting mechanism featuring a steam release part surrounded by an annular venting seal and a movable piece defined by a slit, where the slit's ends and intermediate part tilt to form an ejection port that opens laterally, minimizing content spurtage while allowing steam release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If the vent hole opening area is made small to minimize content spurtage, then content spurtage is reduced, but steam discharge becomes insufficient leading to pouch deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The movable piece is designed to dynamically change the vent hole configuration from a closed state to an expanded state during microwave heating. The piece moves in response to internal pressure buildup, automatically transitioning the vent from a small opening to a larger opening that can discharge steam effectively without causing content spurtage
Solution Approach 2:
The venting mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a fixed vent hole and a movable piece that can independently move to adjust the opening area. This segmentation allows the system to control steam discharge separately from content containment, enabling sufficient steam release while preventing spurtage
2Reliability
If the vent hole opening area is made large to ensure sufficient steam discharge, then steam discharge is improved, but content spurtage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vent hole size is dynamically adjusted during the heating process. The movable piece remains in a position that maintains a small opening during filling, then transitions to create a larger opening when steam pressure builds up, ensuring sufficient steam discharge without premature content spurtage
Solution Approach 2:
The movable piece is pre-positioned to maintain a small vent opening during the filling phase. This preliminary configuration prevents content spurtage during filling, and the system is designed to automatically transition to a larger opening configuration when steam generation begins
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 effectively prevents pouch deformation and content spurtage by creating a lateral ejection port that allows efficient steam discharge without spilling contents, enhancing the reliability and safety of microwave heating.
Implementation Method 1
When the venting seal starts peeling due to increased internal pressure of the pouch, the laminated films forming the movable piece defined by the slit tilt in the same direction either to the front side or backside of the pouch due to entrance of steam into the steam release part or deformation of the pouch
Implementation Method 2
the steam generated from the food and thermal expansion of the air inside
Implementation Method 3
thermal expansion of the air inside
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
To provide a microwave pouch that favorably prevents both of hole formation of the pouch and spurting of contents, with a simple structure. A microwave pouch (10) includes a self-venting mechanism (20). The self-venting mechanism (20) has an annular venting seal (30), a steam release part (40) surrounded by the venting seal (30), and a movable piece (60) defined by a slit (50) formed in the steam release part (40). The venting seal (30) has a seal peel initiation part (31) where peeling is started by steam generated inside the pouch (10) during heating. The slit (50) includes slit both ends (51), and a slit intermediate part (52) formed to extend from the slit both ends (51) toward a region away from the seal peel initiation part (31) and connecting the slit both ends.