Packaging Material Compressed Feature Wrinkle Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The formation of wrinkles near pre-laminated holes in packaging materials during sealing and/or forming of packages is a significant issue, as it can compromise the integrity and appearance of the final package.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a compressed feature, such as a line or pattern, adjacent to the pre-laminated hole in the packaging material, which helps absorb compression forces during sealing and forming, thereby reducing the occurrence of wrinkles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a pre-laminated hole is provided in the packaging material to facilitate straw insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the packaging material develops local weakness that causes wrinkling during sealing and forming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestraw insertionVSAvoidpackaging material stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The compressed feature is provided in advance during the converting process, before the packaging material undergoes sealing and forming operations. This preliminary compression creates a reinforced zone that prevents wrinkling when the material is later subjected to mechanical stresses during package formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compressed feature creates a localized region of altered material properties adjacent to the pre-laminated hole. This local compression increases the density and strength of the material in that specific area, providing resistance against wrinkling without affecting the overall structure or functionality of the packaging material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the production speed of the filling machine is increased to提高 productivity, then the productivity is improved, but the ability to adjust or fine tune operation to prevent wrinkles is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidwrinkle prevention control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The compressed feature is created during the converting process before the high-speed filling operation. This advance preparation eliminates the need for real-time adjustments during rapid production, as the anti-wrinkle mechanism is already in place and will function automatically at any production speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compressed feature acts as a self-regulating element that automatically prevents wrinkling during sealing and forming operations. The compressed material inherently resists deformation, providing passive protection that does not require active control or adjustment regardless of the filling machine's operating speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3950523B1A packaging material and a method for providing a packaging material
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE SA
  • EP3950523B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3950523B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3950523B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5b

AI summary

A packaging material, comprising a laminate with a core material layer (20) and having a plurality of delimited areas (11a-g) intended to form faces of a package (1) is provided. At least one delimited area (11g) is provided with at least one pre-laminated hole (5) and at least one compressed feature (30) arranged adjacent to the pre-laminated hole (5). The at least one feature (30) comprises at least one line (30a-f, 30j) extending along at least a part of the perimeter of the pre-laminated hole (5).