Sheet material for infusion, filter for infusion, and bag for infusion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet materials for extraction, such as tea bags and coffee filters, face challenges in achieving high transparency and extraction efficiency while minimizing powder leakage and ensuring machine adaptability, as increased transparency and extraction efficiency often lead to decreased modulus and increased powder leakage.

Innovation Solution

A sheet material comprising a spunbonded nonwoven fabric layer and a meltblown nonwoven fabric layer, with specific fiber diameter and basis weight ranges, to achieve high transparency, extraction efficiency, and reduced powder leakage, along with enhanced modulus for improved machine adaptability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If fiber spacing is widened in the nonwoven fabric to increase transparency and extraction properties, then transparency and extraction efficiency are improved, but powder leakage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidpowder leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite nonwoven fabric structure combining polyester fibers (providing transparency and extraction properties through optimized fiber spacing) with polypropylene fibers (providing powder retention through finer fiber dimensions and higher density). This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of high transparency and low powder leakage by leveraging the complementary properties of different materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different fiber types and properties to different functional requirements within the same sheet material. The polyester component addresses transparency and extraction needs, while the polypropylene component addresses powder leakage prevention, creating localized functional zones within the composite structure that collectively solve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Illumination intensity

If basis weight is lowered in the nonwoven fabric to enhance transparency, then transparency is improved, but modulus decreases causing deformation during machine processing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidmodulus
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure combines low basis weight polyester fibers (maintaining high transparency) with reinforcing polypropylene fibers (restoring mechanical strength and modulus). The polypropylene component compensates for the reduced structural rigidity caused by lower basis weight, preventing deformation during machine processing while preserving optical properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the basis weight, fiber diameter, and fiber length parameters within specific ranges to achieve the desired balance. By carefully controlling these parameters and combining them in a composite structure, the material achieves both high transparency and sufficient modulus for machine processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If fiber diameter is enlarged to increase transparency, then transparency is improved, but powder leakage increases due to larger fiber spacings

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoidpowder leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polyester fibers with larger diameters (optimized for transparency) with polypropylene fibers having smaller diameters (optimized for powder retention). The composite effect creates a dual-function structure where one fiber type addresses optical properties while the other addresses filtration properties, resolving the contradiction between transparency and powder leakage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 a sheet material with high transparency, efficient extraction properties, reduced powder leakage, and improved machine adaptability, ensuring the production of high-quality extraction filters and bags with minimal defects.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet material for extraction capable of extracting a beverage or the like from an extraction material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

extracting a beverage or the like from an extraction material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3626324B1Sheet material for infusion, filter for infusion, and bag for infusion
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 OHKI
  • EP3626324B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626324B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626324B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sheet material for infusion, a filter for infusion, and a bag for infusion having superior transparency and component infusion properties, not easily leaking powder, and having adequate mechanical properties with a high modulus. Provided is a sheet material for infusion having a first layer of spunbond nonwoven fabric with an 8 - 19 g/m2 mesh formed from polyester based fiber with an average fiber diameter of 18 - 28 µm and has a second layer of melt flow nonwoven fabric with a 2 - 8 g/m2 mesh formed from polyester based fibers with an average fiber diameter of 16 - 28 µm, wherein the total of the length of all fibers included in 1 cm2 thereof is 3.3 - 4.8 m, with the 3% modulus being 5.5 N or greater. Also provided are a filter for infusion and a bag for infusion formed from this sheet material for infusion.