Selective Light-Blocking Package for Low-Alcohol Beverage Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Packaged beverages with distilled liquor, especially those of low alcohol content, suffer from deterioration odors when exposed to light, making it difficult to maintain their quality and visual appeal.

Innovation Solution

A package design with a clear section that selectively inhibits light transmission in specific wavelength ranges (420 nm to 460 nm) and allows high transmission in other ranges (540 nm to 780 nm), potentially containing linoleic acid, to prevent the generation of deterioration odors like metallic odors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the beverage is packed in a clear package to make the beverage state visually perceivable, then consumer attraction is improved, but deterioration odor generation increases due to light exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight transmissionVSAvoiddeterioration odor
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The package is designed with selective optical properties at different wavelength ranges. The clear section transmits light in the visible range (540-780 nm) to maintain visual appeal, while blocking light in the blue-violet range (420-460 nm) that causes deterioration. This local differentiation of optical properties resolves the contradiction between visibility and preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The package modifies the optical transmission parameters by selectively blocking specific wavelength ranges. By changing the optical transmission characteristic at the critical 420-460 nm wavelength range while maintaining transmission at 540-780 nm, the package prevents deterioration odor generation while preserving visual appeal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the beverage is packed in a completely light-blocking package such as aluminum can, then deterioration odor generation is inhibited, but visual perception of the beverage is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterioration odorVSAvoidlight transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniform light blocking, the package implements selective blocking at specific wavelength ranges. The clear section allows visible light (540-780 nm) to pass through for visual perception, while the blue-violet range (420-460 nm) is blocked to prevent deterioration. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The package changes the optical transmission parameters by selectively blocking the 420-460 nm wavelength range while maintaining high transmission (≥80%) in the 540-780 nm range. This parameter change enables both deterioration prevention and visual perception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the package blocks light in the 420 nm to 460 nm range, then deterioration odor generation is inhibited, but the beverage may appear less visually appealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeterioration odorVSAvoidvisual appeal
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The package applies different optical properties to different wavelength ranges. The blue-violet range (420-460 nm) is blocked to prevent deterioration, while the visible range (540-780 nm) maintains high transmission to preserve visual appeal. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between protection and aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The package selectively changes optical transmission parameters by blocking the critical 420-460 nm range while maintaining ≥80% transmission at 540-780 nm. This parameter change ensures deterioration prevention without compromising visual appeal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 package effectively inhibits the formation of deterioration odors, maintaining the beverage's quality and allowing visual perception, with a significant reduction in 1-octen-3-one concentration even after prolonged light exposure.

Implementation Method 1

at least part of the clear section has an optical transmittance of not more than 70% in a region of at least 50% of the wavelength range of from 420 nm to 460 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

an optical transmittance of not less than 80% in the wavelength range of more than 540 nm but not more than 780 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3845624B1Alcoholic beverage in selectively light-blocking container
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 SUNTORY HLDG LTD

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to inhibit the generation of a deterioration odor under light from a packaged beverage comprising a distilled liquor and having a relatively low alcohol content, the packaged beverage whose state is visually perceivable from outside. In order to achieve this object, a package capable of selectively inhibiting the transmission of light at particular wavelengths is used.