Moisture Control Label with Absorbent Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Perishable products, such as tobacco, face issues with drying out due to imperfect seals in packaging, and existing methods like wet sponges are not suitable for all forms of tobacco as they can cause rot.

Innovation Solution

A self-adhesive moisture control label with a water absorbent layer and adhesive layer that can be applied to packaging, allowing water absorption and evaporation to control humidity, featuring a graphical indicium that changes opacity with moisture levels, indicating when water is needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a wet sponge is placed in packaging to prevent drying out, then humidity control is improved, but the product may rot due to direct contact with water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity controlVSAvoidproduct rot

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a water-absorbent layer as an intermediary between the water source and the product. This layer absorbs excess water and releases it gradually through evaporation, preventing direct water contact with the product while maintaining humidity control. The water-absorbent material acts as a buffer that mediates between liquid water and the atmospheric humidity needed by the product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a water-absorbent layer with porous structure that allows controlled water movement. The porous material absorbs water through capillary action and releases it via evaporation from its surface, providing humidity control without direct water contact. This porous structure enables the material to hold water while allowing selective release based on environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Reliability

If sealing is made perfect to prevent moisture loss, then product freshness is improved, but water condensation may occur inside packaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct freshnessVSAvoidwater condensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a moisture-absorbing component that actively removes excess condensation water from the packaging headspace and releases it through controlled evaporation. This system discards the harmful condensation while recovering the water in a controlled manner, preventing both moisture loss and condensation accumulation. The component dynamically adjusts water release based on internal packaging conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Illumination intensity

If a water absorbent layer is made opaque to hide the graphical indicium, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but moisture level indication is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidmoisture level indication

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a graphical indicium that changes its optical properties based on moisture content. The indicium is designed to be visible when the water-absorbent layer is dry and becomes invisible or less visible when saturated with water. This moisture-dependent visibility change provides automatic indication of moisture levels while maintaining aesthetic appearance in the dry state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes changes in the optical parameters of the water-absorbent layer or graphical indicium in response to moisture content changes. As the water-absorbent material transitions from dry to wet states, it alters the visibility or appearance of the graphical indicium, providing visual feedback about moisture levels without requiring additional electronic components or complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 maintains the desired humidity within packaging, preventing products from drying out while ensuring the integrity of the product and providing a visual cue for user intervention.

Implementation Method 1

water absorbed by the water absorbent layer can evaporate from the water absorbent layer so as to control the humidity of the atmosphere within the packaging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

in a dry state the water absorbent layer has a first opacity and wherein in a water saturated state the water absorbent layer has a second opacity which is lower than the first opacity, such that in use the graphical indicium becomes less visible as the water absorbent layer becomes drier, and becomes more visible as the water absorbent layer becomes wetter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOpacity change with moisture content:

Data Source

PatentEP2920780B1Moisture control label

Publication Date: 2023.04.05 MM NEWPORT LTD

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AI summary

There is disclosed a self-adhesive moisture control label (10) for product packaging, comprising: a water absorbent layer (14) capable of absorbing water; and an adhesive layer provided such that the label (10) can be adhered to the packaging. The moisture control label (10) is capable of controlling the humidity of the atmosphere within the packaging. There is also disclosed a method of manufacturing a moisture control label (10).