Tabbed Seal Lacquer Coating to Prevent Sticking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tabbed sealing members for containers often stick to the container rim, making them difficult to remove, and may deform or protrude into the closure, affecting the seal's integrity, with previous solutions being costly or ineffective in preventing sticking.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer laminate tabbed sealing member with a lacquer coating on the underside of the tab, comprising acrylic or polyurethane-based materials with a matte finish, and optional embossing or texturizing to enhance grip while preventing sticking, along with a polymer adhesive layer to provide a tacky surface without hindering release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a side tab or flange is extended outwardly from the seal to provide a grasping surface, then the consumer can easily hold and peel off the seal, but the tab may protrude into the threaded portion of the closure, deform or wrinkle when the closure is placed on the container, and negatively affect the seal's ability to form a good heat seal
Solution Approach 1:
The tab is repositioned from the side (extending outwardly) to the top surface of the seal, changing its spatial dimension and orientation. This allows the tab to provide a grasping surface without interfering with the closure threads or heat sealing process, as it now extends vertically from the seal surface rather than horizontally outward.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab is formed as a separate, distinct component from the main seal body, created by a partial layer of adhesive rather than a full layer. This segmentation allows the tab to function independently as a grasping element while the rest of the seal maintains its heat sealing integrity without deformation.
2Ease of operation
If a full layer of adhesive is used to form a top tab on the seal, then a larger tab is provided for better grasping area, but an additional full layer of material is required, increasing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying a full layer of adhesive across the entire seal surface, only a partial layer is applied in the specific region where the tab needs to be formed. This partial action provides the necessary grasping surface area while avoiding the material waste and complexity of a complete full-layer application.
3Reliability
If certain polymers are used near the tab or specific materials are chosen for the tab, then the tab may be more susceptible to sticking to other layers during installation and storage, but using different materials may affect the tab's ability to provide a good gripping surface
Solution Approach 1:
The surface properties of the tab materials are modified by changing parameters such as surface energy, roughness, or chemical composition to control adhesion characteristics. This allows the tab to maintain high friction for good grip while having reduced adhesion to surrounding layers, preventing sticking during installation and storage.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various enhancements of tabbed seals are provided herein with enhanced tab functionality. Such enhancements include a lacquer coating, such as one-part and two-part coatings, which can help minimize tab sticking to the lower laminate. Further, the lacquer can help decrease air bubbles under the tab and also provide visual enhancements to the tab.