Soft Food Packaging Container With Head-Space Liquid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for soft foods do not effectively maintain the integrity and shape of soft foods during handling and cooking, particularly for individuals with chewing or swallowing difficulties, and lack efficient integration with liquid components.
Innovation Solution
A packaging container with a receptacle portion for soft food and a head space filled with liquid, sealed by a cover, utilizing a multilayer thermoplastic resin sheet with specific design features to ensure self-standing capability and easy opening, while maintaining the soft food's shape and preventing liquid splash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a cup container with seal cover is used for soft food packaging, then the packaging can be sealed and stored, but the soft food loses its shape and integrity during handling and cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging container is divided into a receptacle portion for the soft food and a separate head space for liquid, with the receptacle having a specific shape that maintains the soft food's form. The cover is segmented to include a rim that engages with the receptacle, providing structural support during handling while allowing the soft food to retain its shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle portion is designed with specific local features including a bottom surface and side surfaces that conform to the desired shape of the soft food. The cover's rim has specific engagement features at localized positions to provide support without compromising the overall ease of handling the package.
2Adaptability or versatility
If liquid is added to enhance the soft food, then the nutritional value and taste are improved, but liquid splash occurs during handling and cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging container is divided into a receptacle portion for the soft food and a separate head space for liquid, preventing direct contact and spillage while allowing both components to be stored together. This segmentation eliminates liquid splash during handling and cooking.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary barrier between the liquid in the head space and the external environment, preventing liquid from splashing outward during handling and cooking while still allowing the liquid to serve its purpose for the soft food.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple cup container is used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the package cannot stand stably during storage and cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle portion is designed with specific local features including a bottom surface and side surfaces that provide structural support for the package to stand stably. These local structural elements are integrated into the receptacle design, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving self-standing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging container is formed from a multilayer thermoplastic resin sheet that combines different material properties to achieve both structural stability for self-standing capability and ease of manufacture. The multilayer structure provides strength and rigidity while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes.
4Ease of operation
If the package is designed for easy opening, then user convenience is improved, but the seal integrity and prevention of liquid splash are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into a body portion and a rim portion with engagement features. The rim engages with the receptacle to provide seal integrity, while the cover body can be easily removed from the engagement features, allowing easy opening while maintaining seal integrity during storage and cooking.
Data Source
AI summary
A packaging container, in which a soft food and a liquid are contained and which is sealed by a cover, includes a receptacle portion in which a recess portion, in which the soft food is contained, and a head space that is filled with the liquid above the soft food, are formed.