Steam Passage Portion Shape for Package Seal Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packages experience excessive sheet inflation due to steam generation during heating, leading to potential sheet rupture, as the steam passage portions concentrate pressure and peel off prematurely, failing to efficiently release steam without pushing the sheet excessively.

Innovation Solution

A package design featuring a two-layer sheet with a steam passage portion having an angled shape with a curved inner and outer edge, where the inner edge is more prone to peeling, allowing for earlier and more effective steam release, reducing the likelihood of sheet displacement and enhancing steam passage area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a steam passage portion is provided in the seal portion to release steam, then steam can be externally released from the tray, but the sheet may be excessively pushed up due to inflation when heating objects that generate much steam

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam accumulation causing sheet inflationVSAvoidsheet integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal portion is segmented into multiple regions with different peel-off characteristics. The steam passage portion is specifically positioned and shaped to concentrate stress at its tip, causing it to peel off first and form a steam release channel, while the common seal portion maintains integrity for continued sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the seal have different properties: the steam passage portion has a pointed tip shape that concentrates stress and promotes early peeling for steam release, while the common seal portion has sufficient width and strength to maintain sealing. This local differentiation allows simultaneous steam release and sealing maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the steam passage portion is in a pointed shape to concentrate inner pressure, then the steam passage portion peels off earlier to form a steam passage, but the sheet may be excessively pushed up due to inflation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesteam release efficiencyVSAvoidsheet resistance to inflation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal portion is divided into a steam passage portion with pointed tip for easy peeling and steam release, and a common seal portion with sufficient width for maintaining sealing strength. This segmentation allows the steam passage portion to peel off first under stress while the common seal portion maintains integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steam passage portion is designed with a pointed tip shape that concentrates stress, making it prone to early peeling for effective steam release. The common seal portion maintains sufficient width and strength to resist inflation. This local quality differentiation enables the system to achieve both easy steam release and maintained sheet strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 reduces the risk of sheet displacement by facilitating early and increased steam release, maintaining a stable internal pressure and preventing excessive sheet inflation, while ensuring the common seal portion remains intact during heating.

Implementation Method 1

Since the steam passage portion is in a shape with a pointed tip, the inner pressure of the tray is easily concentrated on the steam passage portion, compared to a linearly shaped portion of the seal portion.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure concentration: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The tray has a top face which is sealed to a sheet to hermetically close an opening of the tray

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat sealing: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3106409B1package
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3106409B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3106409B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3106409B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A package (1) has a seal portion (50) that includes steam passage portions (70) for externally releasing steam from inside the tray (10). The steam passage portion (70) has an inner edge (71) in which the portions configuring one side and the other side relative to the tip are curved and extended nearing each other toward the tip. The steam passage portion (70) has an outer edge (72) in a curved shape with a pointed tip, the shape being similar to that of the inner edge (71). The steam passage portion (70) has a merging portion (73) located between the tip of the outer edge (72) and the tip of the inner edge (71), and a non-merging portion (74) located between the merging portion (73) and a common portion (60). The non-merging portion (74) has a width narrowed from the common portion (60) toward the merging portion (73).