Adjustable Height Packaging Rings for Ergonomic Packing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional outer packaging, such as folding cartons, often have high side walls that make it cumbersome for employees to pack and stack goods, leading to inefficient packaging processes and increased shipping costs due to excessive packaging volume.

Innovation Solution

The side walls are constructed from multiple closed rings that can be connected via hinges, allowing the packaging height to be adjusted by adding or removing rings, with support strips and clamping lugs for secure assembly, enabling easier insertion and stacking of goods and optimizing packaging volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional outer packaging with high side walls is used, then the packaging volume is sufficient to protect goods, but the packaging process becomes cumbersome and increases shipping costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging volumeVSAvoidpackaging process ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The side walls of the outer packaging are divided into multiple segments (first side wall segment, second side wall segment, third side wall segment, fourth side wall segment) that can be independently adjusted in height. This segmentation allows the packaging volume to be optimized for different goods while maintaining ease of operation, as workers can pack goods without reaching over excessively high walls while still achieving sufficient protection volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If fixed-height outer packaging is used, then the structure is simple, but the packaging volume cannot be optimized for different goods leading to increased shipping costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepackaging structure complexityVSAvoidshipping costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging structure incorporates adjustable side wall segments that can be configured to different heights depending on the goods being packaged. This dynamic adjustability allows optimization of packaging volume for each shipment, reducing wasted space and associated shipping costs, while the adjustment mechanism remains relatively simple in design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The height parameter of the side walls can be changed by adjusting the position of the side wall segments relative to each other. This parameter change enables the packaging volume to be optimized for different goods, reducing unnecessary volume and shipping costs, while the mechanism for changing the parameter remains structurally simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high side walls are used in outer packaging, then goods are well protected during transport, but employee strain increases due to bending and lifting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegoods protectionVSAvoidemployee strain
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the side walls into adjustable sections, workers can pack goods at a more ergonomic height, reducing strain from bending and lifting. The segmented structure maintains protection reliability by allowing the top segments to provide adequate coverage while the lower segments are positioned for easier access during packing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3626644B1Packaging divided in height and method for producing such a packaging
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 SCHAUTIES RALF
  • EP3626644B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3626644B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3626644B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a foldable outer packaging forming a circumferentially closed ring (8, 38) with vertically oriented side walls (10) which are connected to each other via common corners of the spatial shape.It is proposed that corner-extending support strips (14) with upward and downward extending clamping tabs (20) are attached to the upper edges (12) of the lower side walls (10) in at least two or more corner areas (24), the upwardly directed clamping tabs (20) defining between them an insertion channel following the extension of the support strip (14), into which the upper side walls (10) are inserted, the length dimensions and the spatial shape of the side walls (10) located below and above the level of the strips being identical, so that the side walls (10) arranged one above the other and connected to each other by the support strips (14) form a common outer packaging with jointly formed flat outer surfaces.