Resealable Package With Segmented Closure Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional package forming equipment is limited in producing packages with shaped sealed ends and punch holes, leading to scrap accumulation and high production costs, and the incorporation of resealable features like cold seal adhesives and easy-opening mechanisms increases manufacturing complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A resealable package design comprising a package body and a separately produced closure element, where the closure element is shaped and equipped with adhesives and features like punched holes before attachment, allowing for simple and cost-effective production without modifying the package forming equipment, and featuring a resealable adhesive arrangement that ensures reliable reclosure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional package forming equipment is used to produce packages with shaped sealed ends and punch holes, then the equipment can form basic package structures, but it leads to scrap accumulation and high production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into two separate components: a package body formed by conventional equipment and a closure element formed separately with the desired shape and features. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, eliminating scrap from the package body while maintaining the required package functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element is pre-formed with the final shape, punched holes, and adhesive application before being attached to the package body. This preliminary action eliminates the need for secondary operations on the package body, reducing both scrap and production costs.
2Reliability
If cold seal adhesive is printed on the film web in machine direction to provide reclose feature, then the package gains resealable functionality, but it creates pressure banding on production equipment roll and increases friction against forming collar
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive application is extracted from the package body film web and transferred to the separate closure element. This eliminates the adhesive from the rolling stock that passes through the forming equipment, removing the sources of pressure banding and high friction while preserving the resealable functionality on the closure element.
3Ease of operation
If laser scoring or perforations are incorporated into the package material for easy opening, then consumer access is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The easy-opening features (laser scoring or perforations) are incorporated into the separate closure element rather than the package body. This allows the features to be added during closure element formation using standard equipment, avoiding costly modifications to the package forming process while still providing consumer-friendly opening.
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 enables the production of resealable packages that can be reliably reclosed, reducing production costs and equipment modification needs, while maintaining high sealing integrity and ease of consumer access, thus extending product storage life.
Implementation Method 1
a resealable adhesive arrangement which is arranged so that, upon removal of the closure element from the package body, the resealable adhesive arrangement is exposed so as to allow the inner surface of the portion of the first side wall which protrudes beyond the second side wall and an outer surface of the second side wall to be releasably adhered to one another
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a resealable package (1, 1′, 1″), comprising a package body (2) having a first side wall (4), a second side wall (6) opposite the first side wall (4), an openable top end (8) and a closed bottom end (10), wherein a portion (12) of the first side wall (4) protrudes beyond the second side wall (6) at the top end (8) in a direction from the bottom end (10) to the top end (8), and a closure element (18) which is releasably adhered to an inner surface (14) of the portion (12) of the first side wall (4) which protrudes beyond the second side wall (6) and the second side wall (6) so as to close the top end (8), Upon removal of the closure element (18) from the package body (2), a resealable adhesive arrangement (20, 22; 23; 25) is exposed so as to allow the inner surface (14) of the portion (12) of the first side wall (4) which protrudes beyond the second side wall (6) and an outer surface (16) of the second side wall (6) to be resealably adhered to one another in a position to close the top end (8). Further, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus (100) for producing the resealable package (1, 1′, 1″).