Cellulose Container Skeleton with Alternating Zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers with outer skeletons made of cellulose materials face challenges in reducing material consumption while maintaining structural stiffness, particularly in the context of packaging food products that require controlled atmosphere conditions.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring an outer skeleton with alternating thin and thick zones, where the outer skeleton is made of cellulose material-based sheets, and an inner lining of thermoplastic material is affixed to the skeleton, ensuring structural stiffness and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the outer skeleton is made with continuous sheets of cellulose material, then the structural stiffness is maintained, but the quantity of material consumed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer skeleton is divided into multiple separate sheets instead of using continuous sheets. These sheets are positioned at different zones (bottom wall, side walls, upper flange) and connected through overlapping edges joined by adhesive. This segmentation reduces the total quantity of material needed while maintaining structural stiffness through strategic placement and connection of smaller sheet segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different zones of the container skeleton use sheets of different sizes and positions optimized for local structural requirements. The bottom wall has a first sheet, side walls have second sheets, and the upper flange has a third sheet. Each zone receives material only where structurally necessary, reducing overall material consumption while maintaining local stiffness requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If the outer skeleton uses fewer and smaller sheets, then the quantity of material is reduced, but the structural stiffness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple separate sheets are merged through overlapping connections at their edges using adhesive. The first sheet at the bottom wall overlaps with second sheets at the side walls, which in turn overlap with the third sheet at the upper flange. This merging of separate sheets creates a continuous structural path that maintains overall structural stiffness despite using fewer, smaller individual sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between sheets occurs in three-dimensional space through overlapping edges rather than simple planar joining. The sheets are arranged in vertical layers (bottom, middle, top) with overlapping connections that create a stacked, multi-dimensional structure. This dimensional arrangement enhances structural stiffness by distributing loads across multiple planes and connection points.
3Quantity of substance
If separate sheets are used to reduce material consumption, then manufacturing complexity increases due to assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The sheets are designed with pre-defined overlapping edges that align with each other in the assembled configuration. The first sheet has edges that overlap with second sheets, which in turn have edges that overlap with the third sheet. This preliminary design of overlapping geometries simplifies the assembly process by providing natural alignment features, reducing the complexity of joining operations despite using multiple separate sheets.
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 container achieves a reduction in the quantity of material needed for the outer skeleton while maintaining sufficient structural stiffness, making it easier to produce and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
the inner lining is made of plastic material, in particular composed of a thermoplastic material thermoformed on the outer skeleton
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Container comprising an outer skeleton (2) and an inner lining (3) that is internally affixed to the outer skeleton (2), the container (1) having an upper annular flange (9) and a side wall (6) which comprises a succession of first portions (11) and second portions (12) that follow one another, alternately. Each first portion (11) comprises a first part (13) consisting of the outer skeleton (2), and a second part (14) consisting of the inner lining (3), the first part (13) and the second part (14) being coupled together and extending for the entire height of the side wall (6). Each second portion (12) consists only of the inner lining (3), and also extends for the entire height of the side wall (6).