Composite Container Rim Separation Score Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite containers with carton and plastic components pose challenges in recyclability due to firmly attached plastic rims, which hinder efficient separation and recycling of materials.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a continuous or discontinuous circumferential score line on the tubular body's surface, along with stabilization and deformation zones, to facilitate the delamination and separation of the plastic rim from the carton body during disposal, allowing for easier recycling of carton and plastic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a plastic rim is firmly attached to the tubular body using adhesive, then the structural strength and stability of the composite container are improved, but the recyclability and ease of separation of the container components deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A score line is pre-formed in the tubular body at a predetermined location before the rim is attached. This score line creates a planned weakness in the adhesive bond line, allowing the rim to be firmly attached during use but easily separated during recycling by applying minimal force at the score line location.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation mechanism is segmented into two distinct zones: a score line region that facilitates easy separation and an adhesive bond region that provides structural strength. This segmentation allows different functional requirements to be met in different spatial locations of the same joint.
2Reliability
If a plastic rim is firmly attached to the tubular body, then the stability and durability of the composite container are improved, but the force required for separation and recycling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tubular body has non-uniform local properties: a score line is created at a specific location to provide a point of low resistance for separation, while the rest of the rim-tubular body interface maintains strong adhesive bonding for structural stability during use.
3Strength
If the rim is made from a durable material like plastic or metal, then the protective function and structural integrity are improved, but the complexity of recycling and material separation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic rim is designed to be extractable from the composite container structure through the score line mechanism. This extraction capability allows the plastic component to be separated from the cardboard tubular body for independent recycling, reducing the complexity of mixed material processing.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A composite container (100,200,300,400) comprising a tubular body (101,201,301,401), the tubular body being closed at a bottom end (102,202,302,402) over a container bottom opening (106,206,306) of the tubular body opposite a container top opening (104,204,304) at a top end (103,203,303,403) of the tubular body and having an inside surface (124,224,324,424) and an outside surface (125,225,325,425), the tubular body extending in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container from the bottom end to the container opening, the tubular body being made from a laminate sheet material (8) comprising a carton substrate layer (10,110) and a rim (108,208,309,408) surrounding the container top opening and/or the container bottom opening, the rim being attached to an end portion of the tubular body along an end edge (105a,205a,307a) of the tubular body, the rim having an inner portion (108b,208b,309b)facing the inside surface of the tubular body, the inner portion (108b,208b,309b) comprising a distalinner edge (108a,208a,309a) being located at a distance from the end edge of the tubular body of from 2 to 20 millimeter, and a lid (122,222,322,422) for opening and closing the composite container, characterized in that the composite container comprises a separation arrangement (116,216,316,416) for separating the attached rim from the tubular body, the separation arrangement comprising a, continuous or discontinuous, circumferential first score line (118a,218a,318a,418a) arranged in a circumferential direction in the inside surface or alternatively in the outside surface and extending only partially through the thickness of the tubular body, the first score line being located at a distance from the end edge of the tubular body and at level with or at least not more than 3 mm further away from the end edge compared to the distal inner edge as seen in the longitudinal direction (L), and the first score line being provided in the front and rear wall portions and in thetwo side wall portions,the first score line being provided along from 60% to 100% of the circumference of the inside surface, and/or of the outside surface.A rectangular body blank for forming a tubular body and methods of separating a rim from a tubular body are also disclosed herein.