Packaging Container Sterilizing Cut Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for disinfecting open cut edges of composite packaging materials are inefficient, leading to contamination risks and production disruptions due to high energy costs, noise emissions, and potential damage to printed images, with direct spraying methods being complex and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A container system where packaging materials with open cut edges are treated with an ethanol and H2O2 solution as a disinfectant, applied indirectly through evaporation and absorption, using a load carrier within the container, which maintains a sterilizing atmosphere and penetrates up to several millimeters into the packaging material, reducing contamination risks and production disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct spraying methods are used to disinfect open cut edges, then disinfection effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and operational errors increase
Solution Approach 1:
A load carrier made of porous or cellulosic material serves as an intermediary between the disinfectant solution and the packaging material edges. The load carrier absorbs the disinfectant and releases it gradually, creating a sterilizing atmosphere without requiring complex spraying mechanisms. This simplifies the device while maintaining disinfection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The load carrier automatically releases the disinfectant through evaporation and absorption processes without requiring active control systems. The porous material structure enables self-regulated release of the disinfectant vapor, reducing operational complexity and potential for human error.
2Speed
If high concentrations of disinfectant are used, then disinfection speed is improved, but damage to printed images and material degradation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disinfectant is released in a controlled, periodic manner through evaporation from the load carrier rather than as a single high-concentration application. This extended release period maintains effective disinfection while reducing peak concentrations that could damage printed images or degrade materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentration of the disinfectant solution on the load carrier is maintained at low levels (0.1-10 ml per load carrier), but the extended exposure time compensates for the lower concentration. This parameter change from high concentration/short duration to low concentration/long duration achieves effective disinfection without harmful effects.
3Reliability
If dust extraction systems are used during production, then contamination prevention is improved, but energy consumption and noise emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disinfection process is performed in advance during packaging material storage, before the material reaches the filling station. By treating the edges early and maintaining a sterilizing atmosphere in the container, the need for continuous dust extraction during subsequent handling is reduced, lowering energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilizing atmosphere is maintained continuously throughout the storage and transport period in the container, providing ongoing protection against contamination without requiring intermittent high-energy extraction operations. This continuous low-level disinfection replaces periodic high-energy dust extraction.
4Productivity
If cutting knives are used frequently, then production productivity is improved, but contamination risk increases due to more cut edges
Solution Approach 1:
The potentially contaminated cut edges are extracted from the main packaging material body and isolated within the sealed container with the load carrier. This separation allows the cut edges to be disinfected independently without affecting the rest of the packaging material, enabling frequent cutting while maintaining low contamination risk.
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
Achieves effective disinfection of packaging material edges with low disinfectant concentrations over a long period, minimizing contamination risks and production disruptions, while avoiding damage to printed images and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The treatment agent is not applied directly to the cut edges, but at least part of the treatment agent is loaded on a carrier element, so that an actively sterilizing atmosphere subsequently acts on the open cut edges
Implementation Method 2
The open cut edges form pulp areas that are accessible to the surrounding atmosphere
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A container for holding multiple flat-folded packaging jackets (S), blanks (B), or web material rolled into a roll (R) is shown and described. To provide a container for holding multiple flat-folded packaging jackets, blanks, or web material rolled into a roll, in which the aforementioned packaging material with sterilized open cut edges is stored or transported, it is proposed that at least parts (9, 12) of the inside of the container (7, 7', 7") be wetted or coated with a treatment agent and/or that loading carriers (10, 11, 11', 11", 17) coated with a treatment agent are provided inside the container (7, 7', 7").