Rectangular Foil Bag for Aseptic Vegan Cheese Packaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vegan cheese products in liquid form are susceptible to contamination due to the absence of natural bacterial flora, and existing packaging methods result in irregular shapes and difficulties with further processing, as well as limited filling temperature options.

Innovation Solution

A method involving filling hot vegan cheese into a foil bag with welded foil strips forming a rectangle, ensuring sterile conditions and a pre-formed cuboid shape, which can be easily processed further, using a laminated film material like LLDPE and a sealing cap to prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If liquid vegan cheese is packaged using traditional pillow packaging, then the packaging process is simple, but the packaging shape is irregular and unsuitable for further processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging process simplicityVSAvoidpackaging shape regularity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging film is pre-formed into a rectangular shape with a defined cavity volume before filling. The film strips are welded together in advance to create a structured container that maintains its rectangular form during filling, eliminating the need for post-filling shaping operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If liquid vegan cheese is packaged using traditional pillow packaging, then the packaging process is simple, but the film wrinkles easily making removal difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging process simplicityVSAvoidfilm removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Shape

If vegan cheese is filled in thermoformed packaging, then the packaging provides good structure, but filling is only possible at low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging structureVSAvoidfilling temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameters of the vegan cheese mass, heating it to between 80°C and 95°C to reduce viscosity. This temperature increase allows the mass to flow easily into the pre-formed rectangular packaging while maintaining its liquid state for complete cavity filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Shape

If vegan cheese is filled in plastic casing, then the packaging provides good structure, but only rod shape is produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackaging structureVSAvoidshape variety

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

5Adaptability or versatility

If vegan cheese is packaged without protective flora, then the product is vegan, but it is susceptible to contamination during filling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevegan product compatibilityVSAvoidcontamination susceptibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a controlled filling environment by heating the vegan cheese mass to 80-95°C, which sterilizes the product and prevents microbial contamination. The pre-formed closed packaging structure further protects the sterile mass during filling and storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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 method provides a germ-free, easily processable vegan cheese product with a regular shape, protected from contamination, and allows for cooling and hardening in a controlled rectangular form, facilitating further processing and maintaining product integrity.

Implementation Method 1

Cooling the cheese mass, if necessary, in a shape corresponding to the rectangle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCooling and hardening: Freezing

Data Source

PatentEP4368523A1Process for the germ-free packaging of vegan cheese

Publication Date: 2024.05.15 DMK DEUT MILCHKONTOR

Figure 1
Figure 2a~2c

AI summary

A method for the aseptic packaging of vegan cheese is proposed, comprising or consisting of the following steps: (a) providing vegan cheese in a heated buffer tank, the temperature of which is sufficient to keep the vegan cheese in a liquid state; (b) providing a foil bag in which the foil sheets are welded together so that they form a rectangle when filled, the foil bag having a filling nozzle with a cap; (c) filling the foil bag with the vegan cheese from the buffer tank through the filling nozzle until the bag has assumed its rectangular shape; (d) sealing the bag with the cap; and (e) cooling the cheese mass, optionally in a shape corresponding to the rectangle.