Sealed Single-Dose Package With Guided Break Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed single-dose packages for large sizes are difficult to open due to resistance from the large amount of product, and they are typically made from plastics that pose environmental disposal challenges.
Innovation Solution
A sealed single-dose package with a break opening mechanism, featuring a semi-rigid sheet and flexible sheet combination, including a narrow portion and protruding welds to facilitate easy bending, and a predominantly paper or cellulose-based material construction for eco-friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the package contains large quantities of product, then the product capacity is improved, but the ease of opening deteriorates due to resistance from the large amount of product
Solution Approach 1:
The package is divided into two distinct sheets: a semi-rigid sheet providing structural support and a flexible sheet enabling easy bending. This segmentation allows the package to maintain large product capacity while the flexible sheet component ensures ease of opening by bending along predetermined lines without resistance from the product volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The package combines different material properties in a composite structure: semi-rigid material for the sheet providing shape and strength, and flexible material for the sheet enabling bending. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by having each material component fulfill its specific function - structural support versus ease of deformation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the package is made from plastics material, then the manufacturing ease is improved, but the environmental harm increases due to disposal and recycling challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The package material composition is changed from conventional plastics to predominantly paper or cellulose-based materials. This parameter change in material composition maintains manufacturing feasibility while significantly reducing environmental harm and improving recyclability, as paper and cellulose are more easily recycled compared to plastics.
3Reliability
If the package uses a multi-layer structure with welds, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two sheets are welded together at multiple points to form a unified sealed structure. This merging of components creates a reliable seal while the weld points are strategically placed to maintain flexibility for opening. The combination of sheets with welds provides both sealing reliability and the necessary structural integrity for easy 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
Ensures easy opening of large quantities of product while promoting recyclability and reducing environmental impact by using paper or cellulose-based materials.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible sheet (4) is superimposed on the semi-rigid sheet (2), so that the inner face (4a) faces the front face (2b), and welded thereto, so as to form an inner pocket (6) for containing one dose of a product.
Implementation Method 2
The semi-rigid sheet (2) has an incision (8) extending along an incision direction (Y), which is for example transversal, i.e., in the aforesaid embodiment, it extends along a direction incident to the longitudinal axis (X). The incision (8) is adapted to guide, upon a bending of the package (1), a controlled breakage of the semi-rigid sheet (2) along said incision
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed single-dose package having a multi-layer semi-rigid sheet, a flexible sheet superimposed and welded to the multi-layer semi-rigid sheet to form an inner pocket for containing one dose of a product is provided. An outer incision in the multi-layer semi-rigid sheet is adapted to guide, upon bending of the sealed single-dose package, a breakage of the multi-layer semi-rigid sheet to form an opening for the product contained in the pocket to escape. The inner pocket has a narrow portion aligned with the outer incision. The sealed single-dose package ensures proper opening especially for large product sizes.