Packaging Tray Sealing with Edge-Only Label Adhesive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packaging solutions require a significant amount of packaging material, involve complex sealing stations, and have labels with high adhesive content that are difficult to recycle, especially when using linerless labels, leading to increased production time and unsightly silicone traces.

Innovation Solution

A packaging design featuring a self-adhesive label with adhesive applied only along the edge, allowing for a seamless bond with the tray rim, reducing adhesive and silicone content, and enabling easy recycling of carrier tape material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If labels are coated with adhesive on their entire underside to ensure secure attachment, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the amount of adhesive material increases and recyclability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidadhesive material
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adhesive only in the label rim area (edge zone) rather than across the entire label underside. This localized adhesive application provides sufficient attachment reliability for sealing the packaging while dramatically reducing the total adhesive material used, thereby improving recyclability of the carrier tape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If linerless labels are used to reduce packaging material, then the amount of packaging material is reduced, but production complexity increases and production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging materialVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the label structure into a label body and a separate carrier tape, with adhesive applied only at the label rim. This segmentation allows the label to be produced on a standard labeling machine without requiring complex linerless label mechanisms, thereby reducing production complexity while still reducing overall packaging material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If adhesive is applied all around the label edge to create continuous bond, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the amount of adhesive increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidadhesive quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent concentrates adhesive application to the label rim area where it is most needed for sealing, rather than applying it across the entire label underside. This localized approach achieves continuous bond and reliable sealing while minimizing adhesive quantity used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of operation

If carrier tape is coated with silicone over entire surface to allow label removal, then label detachment ease is improved, but the proportion of coating material increases making recycling difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabel detachment easeVSAvoidcoating material
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies silicone coating only in the label rim area of the carrier tape, matching the adhesive application zone. This localized coating provides sufficient release properties for label detachment while minimizing the total coating material, making the carrier tape recyclable with less than 10% coating content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution results in sustainable, cost-effective packaging with reduced material waste, stable adhesion, and easy recyclability, while allowing for various label shapes and avoiding unsightly silicone traces.

Implementation Method 1

A characteristic of the invention is that the lid part consists of a self-adhesive label peeled from a carrier tape, on the underside of which adhesive is applied all around exclusively in the area of a label rim that is to be glued to the tray rim

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4606721A1Package and method for producing a package
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 MULTIVAC MARKING & INSPECTION GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4606721A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4606721A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP4606721A1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a packaging (1) comprising a packaging base (2) in the form of a packaging tray (S) with a tray edge (4) projecting all around, and a lid part (3) that is glued onto the tray edge (4). The lid part (3) consists of a self-adhesive label (5) peeled off from a carrier tape (T), to the underside (U) of which adhesive (K) is applied all around exclusively in the region of a label edge (6) to be glued onto the tray edge (4). The invention further relates to a method for producing a packaging (1).