Sealed Single-Dose Package with Stepped Incisions for Controlled Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed single-dose break-open packages face challenges in achieving precise and controlled product distribution, particularly for spreadable, granular, and powdered products, due to issues with incision precision, product leakage, and incomplete dosing.
Innovation Solution
A sealed single-dose break-open package design featuring lateral incisions at the edge and a shaped central incision, allowing for guided opening and controlled product release, along with an incision tool for creating 'V'-shaped or 'zig-zag' incisions to facilitate precise distribution of liquids, granules, and powders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If incisions vary in depth to cause gradual breakage, then controlled breakage is achieved, but manufacturing precision decreases due to complex knife movement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the depth of incisions in a controlled manner. The first incision has a first depth and the second incision has a second depth greater than the first depth, creating a stepped configuration that guides breakage without requiring complex moving knife mechanisms. This resolves the contradiction by achieving depth variation through static positioning rather than dynamic movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-forming the stepped incision pattern before the breaking operation. The differential depth incisions are created during manufacturing, so that when the package is opened, the breakage follows the predetermined path without requiring real-time control of knife movement. This eliminates the need for complex dynamic adjustments during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If central incision is used for breakage control, then product distribution is improved, but product leakage occurs from lateral segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the incisions non-through, meaning they penetrate only partially through the semirigid material rather than completely. This creates localized weakening at specific depths and positions, allowing controlled breakage at the incision locations while maintaining material integrity elsewhere to prevent unwanted leakage from lateral segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by creating incisions that do not fully penetrate the material thickness. The first and second incisions extend to different depths but both remain partial, creating a stepped configuration that guides breakage without completely severing the material, thus controlling product release while preventing uncontrolled leakage.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple incision design is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but product dosing is incomplete for granular and powdered products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the single incision into multiple stepped segments (first incision and second incision at different depths). This segmented approach creates a progressive breakage pattern that effectively dispenses granular and powdered products in controlled portions, improving dosing completeness while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through static tooling.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed single-dose break-open package including a first sheet of semirigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket containing a dose of a product; wherein the first sheet of semirigid plastic material includes at least one substantially straight first incision positioned at a first edge of the first sheet, and at least one shaped incision positioned in a central portion of the first sheet, laterally and at a distance from the straight first incision.