Sealed package containing a squeezable product
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for extracting juice from fruits like citrus are inefficient, leading to wastage and mess, and the fruit industry faces supply fluctuations due to seasonal variations, resulting in unpredictable production and pricing.
Innovation Solution
A sealed package with flexible, fluid-tight films that allow for controlled squeezing and dispensing of liquid, featuring a grippable tab for easy opening and a design that prevents excessive separation, ensuring predictable and clean juice extraction while maintaining product integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fruit is sliced or cut for juice extraction, then juice can be easily accessed, but wastage increases and the fruit cannot be used after juice extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The fruit is nested within a flexible pouch that is sealed within a rigid outer pack. This nested structure allows the fruit to be protected during transport and storage, then easily accessed when needed. The fruit remains intact inside the pouch, eliminating wastage while allowing juice extraction through the pouch material.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible pouch acts as an intermediary between the fruit and the user. The pouch allows juice to pass through to the user while containing the fruit, preventing wastage. After juice extraction, the fruit remains intact inside the pouch for subsequent use or storage.
2Productivity
If fruit is squeezed for juice extraction, then juice is obtained, but residue is left on fingers and juice direction is unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible pouch serves as an intermediary that contains the fruit during squeezing. The user squeezes the pouch rather than the fruit directly, preventing residue on fingers. The pouch channels the juice flow in a predictable direction toward the user while containing the fruit and any residue inside the pouch.
3Ease of operation
If the package is made fully flexible for squeezing, then juice dispensing is facilitated, but structural integrity and shape maintenance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The package combines a flexible inner pouch containing the fruit with a rigid outer pack for structural support. The flexible pouch allows easy squeezing and manipulation for juice dispensing, while the rigid outer pack maintains the overall package shape and provides structural integrity during storage and transport.
4Reliability
If the seal between films is strong throughout, then product containment is secure, but opening becomes difficult and excessive separation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The seal between the flexible pouch and rigid pack has varying strength along its perimeter. The seal is weakest at a specific location to facilitate easy opening by the user. Once opened, the seal strength increases at other locations to prevent excessive separation and maintain product containment, allowing the package to be opened controllably while remaining secure.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a pack for a product (12) to facilitate the dispensing of a liquid or particulate matter emanating from the product via a first openable portion (17). The pack comprises two films (13, 14) sealed together about a periphery to define a volume in which the product (12) is contained. The films at the openable portion (17) can be peeled apart in order to create an opening, but the size of the opening is limited by the provision of stronger connections (52) on either side of the openable portion.