Package Material Opening Mechanism With Rupture Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing package opening devices for disposable food containers are inefficient in material usage and production time, often causing leakage issues due to high pressure during manufacturing and misalignment during the injection molding process.

Innovation Solution

A multi-layer package material with a penetration area and two weakening lines connected by a bridge portion, featuring a rupture section with recesses that cover the weakening lines to guide the rupture and prevent leakage, and a second section that covers the area between the weakening lines to enhance opening efficiency and integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional opening devices with tabs or molded opening devices are used, then consumer opening is facilitated, but production speed is hampered and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconsumer openingVSAvoidproduction speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the opening function from complex molded tabs or separate opening devices and integrates it directly into the package material structure through simple weakening lines. This eliminates the need for separate opening components while maintaining ease of consumer opening, thereby improving production speed and reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the package material by introducing controlled weakening lines with specific structural characteristics (tear lines, rupture lines) that enable easy opening. These parameter changes allow the material itself to provide the opening function without requiring additional complex components, thus improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If high pressure is applied during manufacturing of opening devices, then the opening device is formed, but leakage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening device formationVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by pre-forming weakening lines and rupture sections in the package material during the manufacturing process, but designing them to activate only during the opening phase. The rupture section is pre-positioned to cover weakening lines, ensuring that when pressure is applied during opening, the rupture is contained and guided, preventing leakage while allowing easy formation during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rupture section acts as an intermediary element between the weakening lines and the external environment. It covers and guides the rupture along predetermined paths, mediating the pressure application during opening to ensure controlled rupture that prevents leakage while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If misalignment occurs during injection molding, then manufacturing variability increases, but the rupture section design with multiple recesses compensates for this misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidopening functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the rupture section by providing multiple recesses instead of a single rupture path. This parameter change creates a tolerance buffer that compensates for misalignment during injection molding, ensuring that at least one rupture recess will align properly with the weakening lines even when manufacturing precision varies, thus maintaining reliable opening functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of substance

If material consumption is reduced for cost efficiency, then production cost decreases, but opening reliability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial consumptionVSAvoidopening reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the opening device into distinct functional zones: weakening lines for initiating rupture, rupture sections with recesses for guiding the rupture path, and bridge portions for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function with minimal material usage, ensuring opening reliability while reducing overall material consumption compared to solid, non-segmented opening devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3256392B1Package material and package container formed with said material
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP3256392B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1A
  • EP3256392B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3256392B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

A package material comprises a multilayer material structure with layers of plastic laminate, a penetration area (5, 62, 250) and two weakening lines (10) creating an area in between. The package material comprises an opening device with a first (3, 63, 220) and second (2, 222) portion attached to respective sides and a material bridge (31, 65, 231) penetrating the penetration area and connecting the first portion to the second portion. The second portion at least partly covers the penetration area and comprising a rupture section (13, 213) covering at least partly the two weakening lines. The rupture section comprises one or more rupture recesses (14, 141-145, 232) disposed over or adjacent to the weakening lines for guiding a rupture of the multilayer material structure along the weakening lines.