Plastic Container Ribs for Constant Stacking Pitch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paper packaging for powdered products in the food and pharmaceutical industries faces issues with fiber pollution, insect contamination, fragility, and bulkiness, while also potentially degrading the product's texture during transport.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container with a detachable lid and outwardly and inwardly-directed ridges, featuring outwardly projecting ribs for a constant stacking pitch, a foldable skirt section, and a tamper-proof seal, ensuring easy opening and insect-proofing without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If paper packaging (kraft box or kraft barrel) is used, then the packaging is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, but it generates fiber pollution, is vulnerable to insect contamination, and is fragile during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging uses a composite structure combining a rigid plastic container for structural integrity and insect-proofing, with an inner flexible bag for product containment. This composite approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while eliminating the weaknesses of pure paper packaging regarding contamination and fragility.
2Volume of moving object
If plastic container with divergent side walls is used for stacking, then space efficiency improves when empty, but the stacking pitch becomes variable and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The container features locally optimized elements: divergent side walls for overall space efficiency, but specifically positioned vertical projecting portions (stops) at the upper opening that create a standardized stacking pitch. This local quality approach allows both space efficiency and stacking precision to coexist.
3Reliability
If the lid is made securely attached with ridges for tamper-proof sealing, then security and protection improve, but opening requires tools and becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lid attachment system uses dynamic elements: flexible skirts that can be pressed inward to release from the ridges. This allows the lid to be securely attached during transport (tamper-proof) but easily opened when needed by applying simple manual pressure, eliminating the need for tools.
4Ease of operation
If the container is designed to be easily opened without tools, then ease of operation improves, but accidental opening during impacts becomes more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism is designed with preliminary positioning features: the flexible skirts are pre-configured to engage with the ridges in a stable manner during normal handling. The geometry of the engagement ensures that accidental impacts during transport are insufficient to trigger opening, while deliberate manual pressure can release it.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging comprising a plastic container (2), comprising side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) meeting in corners (24), an upper opening (25) and a bottom (26), as well as a detachable plastic lid configured to cover the upper opening of the container (2), and wherein said side walls (20, 21, 22, 23) of the container are divergent, together forming a truncated pyramid, configured so that said container can be stacked in an identical container. According to the invention, said container has projecting portions (29) extending from side walls at the upper opening (25) of the container, said projection portions (29) being external to the container, configured to guarantee a constant stacking pitch between the container (2) and said identical container, when said container is stacked in said identical container.