Adhesive-Free Container Blank With Mechanical Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container blanks for accommodating lumpy contents, such as biscuits or chocolate, require adhesive fixation during assembly, which is undesirable in food manufacturing environments due to hygiene concerns and inefficiencies in production processes.
Innovation Solution
A corrugated cardboard blank design featuring parallel longitudinal fold lines and mechanical locking mechanisms, including incisions and clamping means, allows for adhesive-free assembly and enhanced stability by doubling the bottom thickness of the container, enabling secure locking without adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive fixation is used to assemble the container blank, then the structural stability and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the hygiene compliance and ease of manufacture in food sector deteriorate due to adhesive residue and cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive substance is completely removed from the assembly process. The patent replaces chemical bonding with mechanical interlocking through the locking means integrated into the blank structure, eliminating hygiene concerns associated with adhesive residue in food packaging environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesive) with a mechanical bonding system (locking means comprising locking elements and locking recesses). This substitution maintains structural stability while eliminating the need for adhesives in food sector applications.
2Strength
If adhesive fixation is used to assemble the container blank, then the structural stability is improved, but the productivity and ease of manufacture deteriorate due to additional application and drying steps
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are pre-integrated into the blank structure during manufacturing. The locking elements and locking recesses are formed as integral parts of the blank, eliminating the need for separate adhesive application steps and enabling direct mechanical assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the multi-step chemical bonding process (application, positioning, drying) with a single-step mechanical interlocking process. The locking means enable immediate structural stability upon assembly without requiring drying time or additional processing steps.
3Ease of manufacture
If the blank is designed with mechanical locking means, then the ease of manufacture and hygiene compliance are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means are merged with the blank structure itself rather than being separate components. The locking elements and locking recesses are formed as integral parts of the blank panels, simplifying the overall device while maintaining the mechanical bonding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blank structure serves multiple functions: it forms the container walls and simultaneously incorporates the locking means for assembly. The panel elements serve both as structural components and as carriers of the locking features, reducing overall device complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the blank is designed with mechanical locking means, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to alignment accuracy needs for locking elements and recesses
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements and locking recesses are formed as integral features of the same blank manufacturing process. This ensures inherent alignment between mating locking features since they are produced from the same master pattern or mold, reducing the need for post-manufacturing alignment adjustments.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4(a)~4(c)
AI summary
The cut (1) has five rectangular plate sections (2,3,4,5,6) connected by parallel longitudinal folding lines (7,8,9,10). The mediums for the mechanical, detachable locking are provided to the cut formed for the manufactured container (21). An independent claim is also included for a mechanical device for the manufacturing of a container.