Stretch Heat Treated Polymer Layers for Perforated Container Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laminate containers with perforations for easy opening suffer from poor pouring behavior due to threading of thermoplastic polymer layers, leading to undesirable liquid adherence and overflow, and the use of specific polymers does not adequately address these issues at high production speeds.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a sheet-like composite container involving a process where the inner polymer layer and adhesive layer are stretched during application, with hole cover layers including a stretched polymer that is thermally treated to improve opening and pouring behavior, and the container is designed with a high percentage of carrier layer for stability and barrier layers for gas and moisture protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional laminate containers with perforations are used for easy opening, then opening ease is improved, but pouring behavior deteriorates due to threading of thermoplastic polymer layers causing liquid adherence and overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the polymer layers by applying thermal treatment (heating to 50-150°C for 1-60 seconds) to the hole cover layers. This thermal parameter change modifies the polymer properties to reduce threading during opening, thereby improving pouring behavior while maintaining ease of opening through the perforations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies thermal treatment to the hole cover layers before the opening operation. This preliminary action pre-modifies the polymer structure in the hole cover layers to prevent threading from occurring during the subsequent opening and pouring process, thus eliminating liquid adherence and overflow issues
2Productivity
If high production speeds are used for manufacturing, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates in achieving consistent opening and pouring properties
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal treatment of hole cover layers is applied as a preliminary action during the manufacturing process, before the container is used. This allows the polymer structure to be pre-conditioned for optimal opening and pouring behavior, ensuring consistent performance even at high production speeds where manual adjustment would be impractical
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling the thermal treatment parameters (temperature range of 50-150°C, time of 1-60 seconds), the patent achieves consistent modification of the polymer layers that maintains opening and pouring properties across high-volume production, overcoming the typical trade-off between speed and precision
3Object-generated harmful factors
If specific polymers (polyolefins produced using metallocenes) are selected to eliminate threading, then pouring behavior is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as fewer polymer types can be used
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of restricting polymer selection to specific types, the patent changes the physical state and structure of the polymer by applying thermal treatment. This parameter change (thermal conditioning) enables various polymer types including polyolefins to achieve reduced threading and improved pouring behavior, thereby maintaining adaptability while eliminating harmful threading effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the approach of selecting specific polymer chemistries with a thermal processing method. By substituting material selection with a physical treatment process, the patent maintains versatility in polymer choice while achieving the desired threading reduction and pouring behavior improvement
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 opening and pouring properties, reduced plastic threading, and enhanced tightness, ensuring better food preservation and safety by minimizing the risk of liquid overflow and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the hole cover layers including a stretched polymer is thermally treated after forming the container precursor
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) in the form of a container precursor for a single container (3); (II) forming the container (3) from the container precursor; (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); and wherein the sheet-like composite (4), in the form of a container precursor, 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. producing a container precursor for a single container; 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 once the container precursor has been formed.