Sheet-like composite with modulus ratio for easy-open food containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food packaging systems, particularly those using aluminum foil as a barrier layer, face challenges in being eco-friendly, easily openable with a drinking straw, and maintaining long shelf life with good oxygen barrier properties.

Innovation Solution

A sheet-like composite with a layer sequence of a carrier layer, a polymer-based barrier layer, and an inner polymer layer, where the barrier layer is treated to adjust the modulus of elasticity ratios, facilitating easy opening with a drinking straw while maintaining oxygen barrier properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If aluminum foil is used as the barrier layer, then good oxygen barrier properties are achieved, but the container cannot be easily opened with a drinking straw

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen barrier propertiesVSAvoidease of opening with drinking straw

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier layer is designed with locally differentiated properties: the majority area maintains high oxygen barrier performance, while a specific region (the through-hole area) has modified mechanical properties with a modulus of elasticity ratio closer to 1.00, making it more compliant and easier to pierce with a drinking straw.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameter (modulus of elasticity ratio) of the barrier layer in the through-hole region, transforming it from a high-rigidity material that resists piercing to a more compliant material that allows easy penetration by a drinking straw, while preserving the oxygen barrier function in other areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the barrier layer is made more compliant to facilitate opening, then ease of opening with a drinking straw is improved, but oxygen barrier properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of opening with drinking strawVSAvoidoxygen barrier properties

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The barrier layer exhibits spatially varying properties: the through-hole region has compliant characteristics (modulus of elasticity ratio closer to 1.00) for easy opening, while the surrounding areas maintain rigid, oxygen-barrier properties, thus localizing the compliance effect only where needed for opening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If conventional laminate containers with carrier layer are used, then dimensional stability is achieved, but they require considerable force or tools to open

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidease of opening

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier layer and barrier layer are designed with differentiated local properties: the bulk material maintains high dimensional stability, while the through-hole region has modified mechanical properties (lowered modulus of elasticity) specifically to enable easy opening with a drinking straw without requiring tools or excessive force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If aluminum foil is used for the barrier layer, then good oxygen barrier properties are achieved, but the production and recycling require high energy expenditure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoxygen barrier propertiesVSAvoidenergy expenditure in production and recycling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameter of the barrier layer from aluminum foil to a polymer-based material with oxygen barrier properties, which requires lower energy for production and recycling while maintaining the necessary oxygen barrier performance for food preservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4556213A1Sheet-like composite for dimensionally stable food or drink product containers with a first ratio of its modulus of elasticity which is closer to 1.00 than a further ratio

Publication Date: 2025.05.21 SIG SERVICES AG

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AI summary

The invention pertains to a sheet-like composite (100) comprising: a. a carrier layer (103), b. a barrier layer (105), and c. an inner polymer layer H (108); wherein the carrier layer (103) has a through-hole (109) which is covered by a hole-covering region (111) of a partial sheet-like composite (110) which, in its hole-covering region (111), has a first ratio of its modulus of elasticity in a first composite direction to its modulus of elasticity in a further composite direction and has, outside of its hole-covering region (111), a further ratio of its modulus of elasticity in the first composite direction to its modulus of elasticity in the further composite direction; wherein the first ratio is closer to 1.00 than the further ratio. The invention further pertains to a method (800) for producing a sheet-like composite (100), to a sheet-like composite (100) which is obtainable by this method (800), to a method (900) which provides a treated sheet-like composite, to a container precursor (600), to a closed container (700), to a use of the sheet-like composite (100), and to a use of a laser or a sonotrode.