Container Lid Cam Alignment for Automated Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container assemblies face challenges in efficient assembly and handling of lid parts, particularly in achieving precise positioning and stable stacking, which affects the overall handling and usability of the container-lid combination.
Innovation Solution
A container assembly design featuring a lid part with a connection portion, a hinge, and cam structures that allow for precise alignment and secure attachment to the container part, including tamper-evident locking mechanisms and cam shapes that enhance stacking stability and rigidity, facilitating automated assembly and improved handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lid part is automatically supplied and manipulated for assembly, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving exact positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The lid part is designed with self-positioning features including a cam profile on its bottom side that automatically aligns with a corresponding cam receiving profile on the container part during assembly. The connection portion includes a U-shaped rim that self-aligns with the container rim through complementary geometric shapes, enabling automated assembly without complex positioning mechanisms while maintaining precise placement
Solution Approach 2:
The connection portion and container part are designed with matching geometric profiles (U-shaped rims and cam profiles) that create equivalent positioning conditions during assembly. The complementary shapes ensure that the lid part naturally settles into the correct position when brought near the container, eliminating the need for complex automated positioning systems
2Ease of manufacture
If the lid part structure is simplified for easier assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but stability deteriorates due to reduced stacking stability
Solution Approach 1:
The lid part incorporates a cam profile with curved surfaces on its bottom side that engage with corresponding curved cam receiving profiles on the container part. This curved geometry provides mechanical interlocking that enhances stacking stability while maintaining simple assembly through the natural guidance of the curved surfaces during placement
3Strength
If the connection portion is designed for secure attachment, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional positioning features
Solution Approach 1:
The connection portion is designed with a U-shaped rim and cam profile that simultaneously perform multiple functions: providing mechanical attachment strength through the U-shaped rim engagement, enabling automated positioning through the cam profile alignment, and facilitating stacking stability through the geometric interlocking. This multi-functional design achieves secure attachment without proportionally increasing structural complexity
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 solution enables easier and more precise assembly of the lid and container parts, enhances handling by ensuring stable stacking, and maintains the beneficial properties of the container assembly while providing improved security and rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
a lid being pivotably connected to said connection portion
Implementation Method 2
cam structures that allow for precise alignment and secure attachment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Container assembly (1) comprising a container part (3) and a lid part (2). The lid part has a connection portion (8) to be connected to said container part. For automatic assembly of the container assembly from the container part and the lid part it is advantageous that separate lid parts can be manipulated easily. To that end it is proposed to embody the lid parts such a way that they are stackable in a stable way. More particular it is proposed to provide the top side of the lid with a circumferential cam (9) which can engage inside a circumferential rim (22) of the connection portion. To be able to remove dust and debris from the top side of the lid it is proposed to provide the circumferential cam with interruptions (10). The cam on the lid is preferably embodied to also be engageable with the circumferential edge of the bottom of a further container so that a number of containers can be stacked in a stable way.