Self Venting Steam Valve for Flexible Packaging Bags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current self-venting bag systems for microwave cooking face challenges in maintaining controlled steam venting and positive pressure, leading to reduced production efficiency and suboptimal cooking quality, especially for fresh produce and frozen foods.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a self-venting steam valve into the seal of microwave bags or pouches, where the steam valve features a pressure accumulating portion, a pressure controlling portion, and a breakable seal that ruptures at specific temperatures or pressures to allow controlled steam release, optimizing steam flow and maintaining positive pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thin plastic membrane is placed over small holes to provide hermetic seal with adhesive/pressure combination, then controlled steam venting is achieved, but production equipment complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the membrane and adhesive components from the venting system, eliminating the need for complex equipment to apply membranes with precise adhesive/pressure combinations. The vent holes are simply punched through the bag material without requiring additional sealing layers or bonding mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, disposable punched holes instead of reusable or precisely engineered membrane systems. The holes are created directly in the bag material and function as permanent venting openings without requiring additional components that would need precise application or replacement.
2Ease of operation
If a thin membrane strip is laminated between polymer films to allow steam venting, then steam can escape during cooking, but maintaining positive pressure inside the package becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the venting mechanism from a thin membrane that ruptures at random points to punched holes with controlled dimensions and distributions. The hole size and pattern are specifically designed to regulate steam flow while maintaining adequate internal pressure for optimal cooking performance.
3Ease of operation
If the entire package is micro perforated to allow steam venting, then steam can escape, but moisture loss due to freezer burn cannot be controlled for frozen foods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating vent holes only in specific locations and patterns rather than uniform micro-perforation across the entire package. The holes are strategically positioned and sized to provide adequate steam venting while minimizing total opening area, thus reducing moisture loss and preventing freezer burn on frozen foods.
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
This solution ensures controlled steam venting and positive pressure inside the package, preventing explosions and optimizing cooking quality while maintaining product freshness and shelf-life.
Implementation Method 1
breakable under an increase in pressure in the pressure accumulating portion during cooking thereby forming a gap/passage
Data Source
AI summary
The present document describes a cooking container for cooking foodstuff comprising: an edge having a seal separating the interior from the exterior of the cooking container; a steam valve formed in the seal, the steam valve comprising: a pressure accumulating portion; a pressure controlling portion; and a breakable seal between the pressure accumulating portion and the pressure controlling portion; whereby the breakable seal is breakable under an increase in pressure in the pressure accumulating portion during cooking thereby forming a gap/passage in the seal and permitting controlled evacuation of pressure from the interior of the cooking container through the gap/passage to the exterior, the pressure controlling portion restricting the evacuation of pressure relative to the pressure accumulating portion after the breakable seal is broken.