Stretch Heat Treated Polymer Container Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food packaging containers, such as cans and jars, face issues with sterilization requirements, storage efficiency, weight, energy consumption, and safety concerns, while laminate containers have limitations in opening mechanisms that lead to threading issues and poor pouring behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a container using a sheet-like composite with specific layer configurations, including a polymeric outer layer, a barrier layer, an adhesive layer, and an inner polymeric layer, where at least one of the inner or adhesive layers is stretched during application, and hole cover layers are thermally treated to enhance opening and sealing properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional laminate containers are opened by tearing or pressing hole cover layers, then the container can be opened, but threading of polymer layers occurs and pouring behavior deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal treatment to modify the physical parameters of the polymer layers in the hole cover area. By heating the polymer material to its melting point or above, the polymer chains are mobilized and can be reoriented, transforming the layered structure into a more homogeneous state that prevents threading during opening
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the polymer material from solid to molten state through thermal treatment. This phase change allows the polymer layers to flow and merge, eliminating the distinct layer boundaries that cause threading when the container is opened
2Productivity
If high production speeds are used for manufacturing sheet-like composites, then productivity increases, but manufacturing precision and quality control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates thermal treatment as a preliminary action during the manufacturing process, before the container is fully formed and before it reaches the customer. This advance treatment ensures that the polymer layers are pre-conditioned to prevent threading, allowing high-speed production without compromising quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the thermal treatment step with the existing manufacturing process for producing sheet-like composites. By integrating the heating process into the lamination or forming operation, the patent achieves both high productivity and consistent quality without requiring separate processing stages
3Ease of operation
If conventional hole areas are created in laminate containers, then opening is enabled, but the hole cover layers cannot be sufficiently separated and threading occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters of the polymer material in the hole cover area by applying heat treatment. This parameter change softens or melts the polymer, allowing the hole cover layers to be cleanly separated from the rest of the laminate during opening, preventing threading while maintaining opening capability
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 method enables high-speed production of containers with improved tightness, easy opening, and reduced threading, resulting in better pouring behavior and extended shelf life for food products.
Implementation Method 1
applying the adhesive layer and the inner polymer layer by extrusion
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the hole covering layers comprising a stretched polymer is thermally treated
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing a container (3) which delimits a container interior (1) from the surroundings (2) and is formed, at least in part, from a sheet-like composite (4), containing the following method steps: (I) supplying a sheet-like composite (4) on a roll (29); (II) forming the container (3) from the sheet-like composite (4) from the roll (29); (III) closing the container (3); wherein the sheet-like composite (4) contains, as the composite constituent parts: - an outer polymer layer (4_1), which is directed towards the surroundings (2); - a carrier layer (4_2), which follows the outer polymer layer (4_1) in the direction of the container interior (1); - a barrier layer (4_3), which follows the carrier layer (4_2) in the direction of the container interior (1); - an adhesion layer (4_4), which follows the barrier layer (4_3) in the direction of the container interior (1); - an inner polymer layer (4_5), which follows the adhesion layer (4_4) in the direction of the container interior (1); wherein the sheet-like composite (4), on a roll (29), can be obtained by a method containing the following method steps: a. supplying a composite precursor having at least the carrier layer (4_3); b. applying the adhesion layer (4_4) and the inner polymer layer (4_5) by layer extrusion; c. rolling up the sheet-like composite onto a roll (29); wherein at least the inner polymer layer (4_5) or at least the adhesion layer (4_4) or at least both is or are stretched during application, wherein the carrier layer (4_2) has a hole (5), which is covered over at least by the barrier layer (4_3), the adhesion layer (4_4) and the inner polymer layer (4_5) as perforation-covering layers (6), and wherein at least one of the perforation-covering layers (6), which contain a stretched polymer, is subjected to heat treatment.