3D-Printed Packaging Structure for Item-Specific Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current packaging methods, both retail and non-retail, lack customization options and are labor-intensive, often relying on general-purpose supplies that do not adapt well to specific product needs or recipient requirements.
Innovation Solution
The use of 3-D printing technology to create customized packaging that can be tailored in size, shape, structure, and appearance, incorporating product information, promotional messages, and recipient-specific details, allowing for both retail and non-retail packaging applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If general-purpose packaging supplies are used for non-retail packaging, then packaging can be applied to various items, but customization is limited primarily to size and shape of box
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating packaging structures with varying densities and material properties in different regions. The 3-D printed packaging includes support structures with different infill percentages, wall thicknesses, and material compositions tailored to specific areas based on the item's geometry and protection requirements, enabling high customization without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging employs dynamic characteristics through configurable support structures that can be adjusted in density, height, and distribution. The infill patterns and support generation algorithms allow the packaging to adapt its structural properties based on the item being packaged, providing customizable protection while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through automated design.
2Manufacturing precision
If 3-D printing is used to create customized packaging, then packaging can be tailored to specific product needs, but manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by generating optimized packaging designs through automated algorithms before manufacturing. The support structure generation, infill pattern selection, and material distribution are all predetermined through software optimization, allowing complex customized packaging to be manufactured through straightforward 3-D printing processes without requiring complex manufacturing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical packaging design and assembly processes with 3-D printing technology. Instead of manually constructing custom packaging or assembling multiple components, the system uses additive manufacturing to directly create complex customized packaging structures, simplifying the manufacturing process while enabling high precision customization.
3Productivity
If traditional packaging methods are used, then packaging can be produced efficiently, but material waste increases due to lack of customization
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting packaging parameters such as infill density, wall thickness, support structure distribution, and material selection based on the specific item being packaged. This allows efficient production of customized packaging that uses only the necessary amount of material, reducing waste while maintaining protection standards through algorithmic optimization of these parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging design system performs self-service by automatically generating optimized packaging configurations without manual intervention. The algorithms analyze item geometry, select appropriate materials, determine support structure placement, and calculate infill patterns autonomously, enabling efficient production of customized packaging that minimizes material usage while maintaining protective functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Items may be packaged for shipping or storage using additive manufacturing techniques, also known as three dimensional (3-D) printing. Packages made by such processes may be referred to as 3-D printed packages. The 3-D printed packages may be customized based on one or more items contained in the package, a recipient of the package, a sender of the package, and/or a destination location of the package. The customizations may include two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional customizations on an interior and/or exterior of the 3-D printed packages.