Container End Stabilizing Bead for Transport Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container ends with pull-tabs are prone to instability during transport on belt conveyors, leading to unfavorable positioning or even falling off due to minor vibrations.

Innovation Solution

The container end features a central panel, a tab, a depression, and at least one bead, with a stabilizing bead extending in the positive z-direction and a bead extending in the negative z-direction, ensuring enhanced stability by maintaining the x-y plane parallel to a flat surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a depression is added to facilitate access to the pull-tab, then ease of operation is improved, but stability during transport deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to pull-tabVSAvoidstability during transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The end is segmented into multiple functional features: the depression for finger access, the stabilizing bead for transport stability, and the pull-tab for opening. These segmented features work independently to resolve the contradiction between ease of operation and transport stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local regions of the end are given different properties: the depression provides localized finger access, while the stabilizing bead provides localized stability during transport. This local differentiation allows both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If the end is designed with a pull-tab and depression, then ease of operation is improved, but the end becomes unstable on conveyor belts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepull-tab accessVSAvoidconveyor transport reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing bead is pre-formed as an integral part of the end structure during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures stability is built-in before the end reaches the conveyor belt, preventing transport issues without affecting pull-tab operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If minor vibrations occur during transport, then stability is maintained, but the end moves to unfavorable positions or falls off

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to vibrationsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing bead acts as a counterbalancing feature that resists the effects of vibrations during transport. Its geometric shape and positioning create stability that counteracts minor vibrations, preventing the end from moving to unfavorable positions or falling off the conveyor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP3962824B1End for a container with enhanced transportability and container with the end
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 TRIVIUM PACKAGING GRP NETHERLANDS BV
  • EP3962824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3962824B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3962824B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

The invention relates to an end for a container. The end (800) comprises a central panel (812), a tab (840), a depression (814) and at least one bead (880). The central panel (812) defines an x-y-plane and a z-direction is perpendicular to the x-y-plane. The tab (840) is attached to the end (800) and the tab (840) comprises a front portion (841) and a rear portion (842). The tab (840) extends in a positive z-direction. The depression (814) is formed in the end (800) and the depression (814) extends in a negative z-direction. The depression (814) is shaped and positioned to allow a human finger to reach at least in part below the rear portion (842) of the tab (840). The at least one bead (880) is shaped in the end (800) and the bead (880) extends in the negative z-direction. The depression (814) and the bead (880) are shaped and positioned such that when the end (800) is positioned on a flat surface while the depression (814) and the bead (880) contact the flat surface, the x-y-plane defined by the central panel (812) is parallel ±2.0 ° to the flat surface.