Agricultural Packaging Surface Area to Coverage Ratio
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agriculturally active products often have inefficient packaging designs that do not optimize the ratio of exterior surface area to coverage area, volume, or weight, leading to suboptimal application and handling of pest control and plant growth regulation agents.
Innovation Solution
The development of agriculturally active products with packaging designs that feature specific ratios of exterior surface area to coverage area, volume, or weight, such as ratios greater than 17,500 square centimeters per acre or 10 square centimeters per milliliter, to enhance application efficiency and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the package size is reduced to improve portability and storage efficiency, then the exterior surface area decreases, but the coverage area treatment effectiveness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple smaller packages containing agriculturally active ingredients inside a larger outer package. This allows the product to occupy less storage space when not in use while still providing sufficient total coverage area when all inner packages are deployed together, thus resolving the contradiction between compact storage and effective coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the total agriculturally active ingredient quantity into multiple separate packages, each with optimized surface area to coverage area ratios. This segmentation allows each individual package to be compact and portable while the collective set provides comprehensive coverage, addressing both portability and treatment effectiveness requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If the package exterior surface area is increased to improve handling and application precision, then the ratio of exterior surface area to coverage area increases, but material usage efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the exterior surface area to coverage area ratio by adjusting package dimensions, sealing configurations, and internal volume utilization. By carefully controlling these parameters, the design achieves sufficient exterior surface area for proper handling and application precision while minimizing excess material that would lead to waste during dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standardized package designs with optimized surface area ratios that can be replicated across different product lines. This standardization ensures consistent handling characteristics and application precision while minimizing material waste through proven efficient designs.
3Volume of stationary object
If the package is made more compact to reduce storage space, then the interior volume decreases, but the amount of agriculturally active ingredient that can be contained is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by nesting multiple smaller packages within a larger container. Each inner package has optimized interior volume for its specific ingredient quantity, while the outer package provides additional storage capacity. This nested structure allows compact individual units that can be stored efficiently while collectively containing sufficient total ingredient quantity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses volume limitations by transitioning to a multi-dimensional storage solution where multiple packages are arranged in three-dimensional space within the outer container. This dimensional approach maximizes the use of available storage space while maintaining adequate interior volume in each individual package for its intended ingredient quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
Agriculturally active products are disclosed that are used to eliminate or otherwise control pests.