Vacuum-cleaner filter bag made from recycled plastic

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vacuum cleaner filter bags made from non-woven plastics face challenges in ecological and economic sustainability due to high production costs and environmental impact, with existing biodegradable options not effectively addressing disposal issues.

Innovation Solution

Development of vacuum cleaner filter bags primarily composed of recycled plastics, with a minimum 40% to 95% recycled material content, utilizing bicomponent fibers and fibrous/dusty recycled materials from textile production, which reduces raw material usage and enhances ecological and economic advantages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If non-woven fabrics made from virgin thermoplastics are used for filter bags, then separation performance and mechanical strength are improved, but production costs increase and ecological sustainability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation performanceVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the principle of discarding and recovering by using recycled plastic materials (post-consumer and post-industrial waste) as the primary raw material for producing non-woven filter fabrics. This replaces virgin thermoplastics, thereby reducing production costs and improving ecological sustainability while maintaining the required separation performance and mechanical strength through controlled recycling processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the molecular weight, viscosity, and composition of recycled plastic materials to ensure they meet the performance requirements for filter bags. By adjusting these parameters during the recycling and reprocessing stages, the patent maintains separation efficiency and mechanical properties comparable to virgin materials while reducing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high-quality and heavy nonwovens are used for disposable filter bags, then functional properties are improved, but ecological sustainability deteriorates due to resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional propertiesVSAvoidraw material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recycles plastic waste materials that would otherwise be discarded, transforming them into high-quality non-woven filter fabrics. This process reduces raw material consumption by utilizing post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste, thereby improving ecological sustainability without compromising functional properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by creating multi-layer non-woven structures where different recycled plastic materials are used in specific layers to optimize local functions. For example, certain layers may use recycled PET for filtration while other layers use recycled polypropylene for structural support, ensuring optimal performance while minimizing overall material consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of substance

If biodegradable materials are used for filter bags, then ecological sustainability is improved, but disposal effectiveness deteriorates since incineration is the primary disposal method

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveecological sustainabilityVSAvoiddisposal effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent closes the material cycle by recycling plastic waste into new filter bags, creating a circular economy system. Instead of using biodegradable materials that are ineffective for incineration disposal, the patent recycles the same plastic materials indefinitely, eliminating waste disposal issues while maintaining ecological sustainability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Reliability

If multiple layers and complex constructions are used in filter bags, then separation performance is improved, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation performanceVSAvoidfilter construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining different recycled plastic materials in multi-layer non-woven structures. Each layer is composed of recycled plastics with specific properties optimized for its function, creating a composite structure that achieves high separation performance while managing complexity through systematic material selection and layer integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3429451B1Vacuum-cleaner filter bag made from recycled plastic
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 EUROLIFTERS HLDG NV

AI summary

The invention related to a vacuum-cleaner filter bag which is primarily made from plastic recyclates.