Segmented Sealing Cover for Retort Containers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing covers for containers face issues with low heat resistance, difficulty in easy-opening, and leakage due to poor airtightness and close-contactability, especially when used for retort products that require high-temperature sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A sealing cover with a layered structure comprising an upper layer with an opening tab and a lower layer of aluminum foil and heat sealing adhesive, thermally adhered using a heat adhesive resin or film, providing high heat resistance and easy-opening capabilities while ensuring a secondary sealing effect by remaining on the container's lip after opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heat sealing cover is used to seal the aperture, then airtightness is improved, but easy-opening performance deteriorates because the aperture cannot be easily opened
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sealing cover is divided into a removable central portion (with opening tab) and a peripheral sealing portion. The central portion can be pulled off easily to open the aperture, while the peripheral portion remains to maintain sealing. This segmentation allows the cover to provide both easy-opening and continued airtightness.
2Reliability
If a conventional heat sealing cover is used, then airtightness is improved, but heat resistance deteriorates because it cannot withstand high temperatures for retort products
Solution Approach 1:
The heat sealing cover is made from composite materials including heat-resistant polymers (such as polypropylene or polyethylene with high melting points) and potentially metalized layers or ceramic coatings. This composite structure enables the cover to withstand high temperatures (130°C or more) during vacuum sterilization while maintaining its sealing function and airtightness.
3Area of stationary object
If the entire heat sealing cover is peeled off to open the aperture, then opening area is improved, but sealing function deteriorates because close-contactability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into a central opening portion and a peripheral sealing portion. When opened, only the central portion is removed, creating a large opening area for content removal, while the peripheral portion remains in place to maintain close-contactability and sealing function between the container and cap.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the necessary central portion of the cover is extracted or removed to create the opening, while the essential sealing portion is retained. This selective extraction allows large opening area without compromising the sealing function provided by the remaining peripheral portion.
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 provides superior heat resistance, easy-opening performance, and reliable sealing, preventing leakage by maintaining close contact between the container and cap, even after opening, and withstanding high temperatures suitable for retort products.
Implementation Method 1
heat sealing covers sealed on apertures of containers by thermal compression bonding
Implementation Method 2
a lower layer comprising an aluminum foil and a heat sealing adhesive layer thermally-adhering to the container
Implementation Method 3
a lower layer comprising an aluminum foil and a heat sealing adhesive layer thermally-adhering to the container
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing cover for containers with increased heat resistance, easy-opening performance and sealability is provided. The sealing cover includes an upper layer which is provided with the opening tab, and a lower layer which includes an aluminum foil and a heat sealing adhesive layer thermally-adhering to the container. The upper layer and the lower layer are integrated with each other via thermal adhesion using a heat adhesive resin or film.