Recycled Plastic Vacuum Cleaner Filter Bags

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaner filter bags made from non-woven thermoplastics face ecological and economic criticisms due to high costs and resource inefficiency, with biodegradable alternatives not being viable for waste incineration and composting.

Innovation Solution

Development of vacuum cleaner filter bags primarily composed of recycled plastics, achieving a high proportion of recycled materials (40-95%) to meet Global Recycle Standards, using non-woven fabrics made from recycled plastics and incorporating recycled fibers and materials like cotton linters, with a multi-layer structure and minimal virgin plastic usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nonwoven filter bags made from thermoplastics are used, then separation performance and mechanical strength are improved, but ecological sustainability and cost-effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation performanceVSAvoidecological sustainability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameter by using recycled plastics (rPET, rPP) instead of virgin thermoplastics. This maintains the functional properties of the nonwoven filter bags while improving ecological sustainability. The recycled materials are processed to achieve the required fiber properties for effective dust separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent recovers and reuses plastic materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste. By collecting and processing recycled plastics into fibers for filter bag production, it creates a circular economy approach that improves ecological sustainability without compromising the separation performance of the filter bags.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If high-quality nonwovens are used for filter bags, then separation performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material source parameter from virgin plastics to recycled plastics. Recycled materials are generally less expensive than virgin materials, thus reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining the required separation performance through proper material processing and nonwoven structure optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses recycled materials that provide cost-effective alternatives to expensive virgin materials. The filter bags maintain adequate service life for disposable application while being manufactured from lower-cost recycled content, improving overall cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Strength

If multiple layers are used in filter bags, then mechanical strength and dust storage capacity are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the filter bag into multiple functional layers, each with specific properties optimized for particular functions (support, dust storage, filtration). This segmentation allows each layer to be relatively simple in structure while the combination achieves high mechanical strength and effective dust storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite nonwoven structures combining different fiber types and configurations in multiple layers. These composite materials provide enhanced mechanical strength and dust storage capacity while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic layer design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3219374B1Vacuum cleaner filter bag made from recycled plastics
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 EUROLIFTERS HLDG NV

AI summary

The invention relates to vacuum cleaner filter bags comprising an interior wall made of an air-permeable material and an inlet opening provided in the wall, characterized in that the air-permeable material comprises at least one layer of a nonwoven fabric and/or a layer of a fibrous nonwoven fabric which comprises or consists of fibers made of a recycled plastic or several recycled plastics.