Annular Groove Torque Absorption in Support Ring-Free Plastic Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic containers without a support ring face challenges in absorbing torque and snapping forces during closure, leading to potential deformations due to reduced mechanical strength from thinner walls, and existing solutions require costly conversions to accommodate automatic closing devices.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container design featuring a circumferential annular groove near the container neck, which acts as an abutment to absorb torque and snapping forces, allowing for automatic closure without a support ring, and is produced during the blow molding process to maintain structural integrity and compatibility with existing closing devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If plastic containers are produced with thinner walls to reduce weight and cost, then weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, but mechanical strength and ability to absorb torque are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a circumferential annular groove at the specific location where the container neck adjoins the container body. This groove concentrates material and structural strength locally at the critical torque absorption zone, allowing the rest of the container walls to remain thin for weight reduction while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength where needed.
2Device complexity
If a support ring is removed to simplify structure and reduce material, then device complexity and material usage are reduced, but ability to absorb torque and support closure forces is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the support ring component entirely from the container design. Instead of using a separate support ring element, the invention integrates the torque absorption function directly into the container wall structure through the circumferential annular groove, simplifying the overall structure by eliminating an additional component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of the container wall and the support structure into a single integrated element. The circumferential annular groove creates a reinforced zone within the container wall itself that performs both structural containment and torque absorption functions, eliminating the need for a separate support ring.
3Productivity
If automatic closure devices are used on containers without support rings, then closure speed and automation are improved, but container deformation occurs due to insufficient torque absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential annular groove is pre-formed during the blow molding process, creating the torque absorption structure before the closure operation takes place. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when automatic closure devices apply torque during high-speed operation, the container is already equipped with the necessary reinforcement to prevent deformation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The annular groove effectively absorbs torque and snapping forces, enabling reliable automatic closure of plastic containers without a support ring, while maintaining reduced wall thickness and compatibility with existing closing devices, thus optimizing weight and ecological balance.
Implementation Method 1
a circumferential annular groove (10) is formed, which is produced in a blow molding process. At least one abutment (16) for absorbing torque is formed within the annular groove (10)
Implementation Method 2
the preform is finally inflated with a gas blown in at overpressure, usually air, according to the mold cavity
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
A support-ringless plastic container (1) is described, comprising a container body (2) and a container neck (5) with a pouring opening (20). Adjacent to the pouring opening (20), fastening means (6) for the positive locking of a closure are provided in an outer wall (6) of the plastic container (1). In a region between the container neck (5) and the container body (2), in an area close to the fastening means (6) for the positive locking of a closure, a circumferential annular groove (10) is formed, which is produced by a blow molding process. Within the annular groove (10), at least one abutment (16) for torque absorption is formed.