Oriented Fiber Web Buffering Material Impact Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Packaging materials made of fibers or waste paper boards struggle to provide an effective buffering impact, as they lack the necessary properties to absorb or mitigate external forces effectively.

Innovation Solution

A sheet-shaped web manufacturing process using a specific apparatus that fibers and a bonding material, where the fiber orientation direction is aligned to enhance the buffering capacity by distributing impact energy through fiber movement and bonding, similar to styrofoam, but with environmentally friendly materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If fiber-based packaging materials are used, then environmental sustainability is improved, but buffering effect against impact deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental burdenVSAvoidbuffering effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of fiber-based materials by controlling fiber orientation, density, and structural configuration to achieve impact buffering properties while maintaining environmental sustainability. This resolves the contradiction by showing that fiber materials can be engineered to provide both eco-friendliness and protective buffering effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite structures using fiber materials with specific orientations and configurations, combining multiple fiber layers or types to achieve both environmental benefits and effective impact buffering. The composite approach allows the material to exhibit properties superior to individual fiber types alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If waste paper board is shaped by heating and pressurizing, then manufacturing capability is improved, but buffering effect against impact deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaping capabilityVSAvoidbuffering effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes manufacturing parameters such as heating temperature, pressurization pressure, and treatment time to achieve the desired balance between shaping capability and buffering effect. By carefully controlling these parameters, the material gains structural integrity for shaping while retaining impact absorption properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If fiber orientation is controlled to enhance buffering capacity, then impact absorption is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebuffering capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the fiber material into oriented segments or layers with specific directional arrangements. This segmentation approach simplifies the manufacturing process by using standardized orientation patterns that can be achieved through conventional equipment, while still providing enhanced buffering capacity through the organized fiber structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 resulting packaging material effectively absorbs and distributes impact energy, protecting contents from external forces while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet-shaped web that contains fibers and a bonding material that bonds the fibers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

the fiber orientation direction is aligned to enhance the buffering capacity by distributing impact energy through fiber movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3854939B1Accommodating body, buffering material, method for manufacturing buffering material, and buffering material manufacturing apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP3854939B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3854939B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3854939B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An accommodating body includes: a first accommodating body that has a first bottom portion; and a first buffering material that has a first pressure receiving surface coming into contact with an accommodated article accommodated in the first accommodating body and that has at least one first sheet-shaped web that contains fibers and a bonding material that bonds the fibers, and in which in the first sheet-shaped web, the fibers are oriented in a plane direction of the first sheet-shaped web, and the first buffering material is used in an orientation with which an end surface of the first sheet-shaped web serves as the first pressure receiving surface.