Recyclable Food Packaging Support with Segmented Weakening Line

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current food packaging methods fail to completely separate the cardboard sheet from the coating film during recycling, leading to non-recyclable materials due to the presence of paints and the design of existing weakening lines.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a weakening line with a series of perforations and connecting bridges is applied to the cardboard sheet before coating, allowing for easy separation of the cardboard from the coating film, ensuring both materials can be recycled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a weakening line is created by perforation on the support to enable separation of the tongue from the remaining part, then the coating film can be detached, but a part of the sheet remains attached to the coating film making it non-recyclable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation of coating filmVSAvoidrecyclability of sheet
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The weakening line is divided into multiple discrete perforations separated by connecting bridges, allowing the tongue to be detached from the remaining part while leaving the coating film intact on the separated portion, enabling complete recycling of both components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The weakening line with discrete perforations is created before coating the support with the coating film, so that when separation occurs, the coating film remains完整地 on one portion allowing both the sheet and film to be recycled separately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If a single continuous perforation is used to create the weakening line, then the tongue can be detached, but the edges of the portions are brought too close to the coating film causing partial detachment of the sheet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetachment of tongueVSAvoidseparation cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous perforation is segmented into multiple discrete perforations separated by connecting bridges, which prevents the edges from being brought too close to the coating film and ensures clean separation without partial detachment of the sheet

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the weakening line is created after coating the support with the coating film, then the coating is complete, but the separation process becomes more difficult and less efficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating completionVSAvoidseparation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The weakening line with discrete perforations is created before applying the coating film, which allows the coating to be applied uniformly across the entire surface and enables faster, more efficient separation afterward without compromising coating completion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This method enables the cardboard sheet to be completely and easily separated from the coating film, making both components recyclable and improving the recycling efficiency of food packaging materials.

Implementation Method 1

coating said first side with said film by means of an adhesive material interposed between said first side and said film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3175981B1A support for fully recyclable food products
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 M E P SOLUTION PACKAGING SRL
  • EP3175981B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3175981B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~3c

AI summary

The present invention relates to a support to be used for packaging food products, which enables the recyclability of the materials of the support itself to be improved, in particular allowing the complete separation of the material that performs the function of sustaining the food product from the material intended to remain in contact with the food product.