Scored Tear Strip Package for Controlled Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet package designs with tear strips struggle to initiate a clean tear, especially with high tensile strength materials, often causing the package to tear in undesirable directions due to the tensile strength of the sheet.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating three transversely spaced parallel score lines in the package to weaken the area between the notches of the tear strip, facilitating controlled tearing and preventing tears from propagating in unwanted directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spaced apart transverse notches are placed in the fin seal to form a tab for manual grasping, then the package can be opened by pulling the tab, but the high tensile strength of the sheet prevents proper tear initiation and control
Solution Approach 1:
Score lines are pre-formed in the sheet material at predetermined locations between the notches. These score lines create predetermined weakness points that will guide the tear propagation path when the tab is pulled, ensuring the tear initiates and propagates in the desired direction despite the high tensile strength of the material.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin seal is divided into multiple segments by the score lines, which create discrete weakness zones between the notches. This segmentation allows the tear to propagate through specific predetermined paths rather than randomly, enabling controlled opening even in high-strength materials.
2Strength
If the sheet material has high tensile strength to maintain package integrity, then the package structure is strengthened, but the tear cannot be properly initiated or controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet material has non-uniform properties: most of the package maintains high tensile strength for integrity, while localized regions between the notches contain score lines that create predetermined weakness points. This local variation in quality allows easy tear initiation at the score lines while preserving overall package strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The score lines are pre-formed during manufacturing to create controlled weakness zones. This preliminary action ensures that when the package is opened, the tear will initiate at these predetermined locations rather than requiring forceful tearing of the high-strength material throughout.
3Productivity
If force is applied to pull the tab to initiate tearing, then the package can be opened, but the tear may propagate in undesirable opposite directions
Solution Approach 1:
Score lines are pre-formed at specific locations between the notches to define the desired tear propagation path. When force is applied to pull the tab, the tear is guided along these predetermined score lines, ensuring propagation in the intended direction and preventing deviation to undesirable opposite directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The score lines act as intermediary elements that mediate between the applied pulling force and the tear propagation. They provide a controlled path that directs the energy of the pulling force along the desired trajectory, preventing uncontrolled propagation in multiple directions.
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 score lines reduce the opening force required to initiate a clean tear, ensuring the package opens in the intended direction and maintaining the package's environmental integrity.
Implementation Method 1
At least one score line between the notches is provided for weakening the package thereat to facilitate controlled tearing of the package
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6C
AI summary
A consumable product package assembly includes at least one consumable product and a package for enclosing the at least one product. The package includes an elongate body portion surrounding the product and a longitudinal seal extending at least partially along the length of the body portion. The seal has a pair of longitudinally spaced notches extending transversely to the distal edge of the seal. The notches define a grasping tab therebetween to initiate tearing of the body portion of the package transversely about the product. The body portion further includes at least one score location extending between the notches to weaken the package thereat to facilitate controlled tearing of the body portion.