Bi-concave Container Bottom for In-mold Label Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The in-mold labeling process for producing small containers faces challenges such as label shifting and plastic material adhering to the outside of the label during injection molding, leading to manufacturing issues and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A container design featuring a bi-concave container bottom with specific concave and convex sections, and a method where the container bottom is concave on both the inside and outside, reducing label shifting and plastic adherence during injection molding, enabling reliable and cost-effective production of small containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If in-mold labeling is used for small containers, then label design versatility and gas tightness are improved, but label shifting and plastic material adhering to the outside of the label occur during injection molding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabel design versatilityVSAvoidlabel position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The label is pre-positioned on the container bottom in the injection mold before the injection molding process begins. The container bottom is designed with a recess that receives the label, and the label is secured in place before plastic material is injected, preventing label shifting during the molding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The container bottom features a localized recess structure specifically designed to hold the label in place. This recess creates a dedicated positioning area that confines the label and prevents it from moving during injection, while the rest of the container maintains its normal structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If in-mold labeling is used for small containers, then label integration is improved, but plastic material gets to the outside of the label during injection molding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelabel integrationVSAvoidplastic material adherence to label outside
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container bottom has a recess structure that creates a localized containment area for the label. The sides of this recess act as barriers that prevent plastic material from reaching the outside of the label during injection, while allowing the label to be fully integrated into the container structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The recess structure in the container bottom acts as an intermediary barrier between the injected plastic material and the label. This intermediate structure prevents direct contact between the plastic and the label's outer surface, eliminating the harmful effect of plastic adherence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If conventional injection molding with in-mold labeling is used, then production efficiency is maintained, but scrap rate increases due to manufacturing defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduct defect rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The label is pre-positioned and secured in the container bottom recess before injection molding begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the label remains stable throughout the entire molding process, preventing defects that would otherwise require scrap of the finished product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The recess structure provides localized precision control for label positioning without requiring complex mold designs or additional manufacturing steps. This localized solution maintains production efficiency while significantly reducing the scrap rate caused by label positioning defects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3254822B1Container with label and method for the production thereof
Publication Date: 2019.11.20 SANNER
  • EP3254822B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3254822B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3254822B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a container with a container body made of plastic, wherein the container body has a side wall and a container bottom, the container bottom having an inside and an outside, and wherein the container body is provided with a label in the region of the side wall. The container body is an injection-molded plastic part produced using an injection mold, and the container body and the label are connected by the fact that, during the production of the container body, the label was inserted into the injection mold and subsequently the plastic was injected into the injection mold. The container is characterized in that the container bottom has a first section that is concave on the inside and concave on the outside. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a container.