Adhesive-Free Corrugated Container 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 safety regulations.
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 by inserting clamping means into incisions, ensuring a stable and load-bearing container without the need for gluing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive fixation is used to assemble the container blank, then the structural stability and strength of the container is improved, but the hygiene safety and suitability for food manufacturing environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesives) with a mechanical bonding system. The container blank incorporates interlocking elements such as tabs, slots, and friction-fit components that mechanically join the container walls and base without requiring adhesives. This mechanical substitution eliminates hygiene concerns while maintaining structural stability through precise mechanical engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The container blank is designed with self-assembling features where components automatically interlock through mechanical means. The structure includes self-aligning tabs and slots, friction-fit joints, and snap-connectors that enable the container to assemble itself without external adhesive application, ensuring both structural integrity and hygiene safety in food manufacturing environments.
2Strength
If adhesive application steps are included in the manufacturing process, then the container strength and stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates adhesive application equipment and processes by implementing mechanical interlocking features directly in the container blank design. The manufacturing process uses standard cutting and folding operations to create tabs, slots, and interlocking geometries, replacing complex adhesive application machinery with simpler mechanical forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container blank is pre-designed with integrated locking features, interlocking geometries, and mechanical joining elements during the blank manufacturing stage. These preliminary structural features enable direct mechanical assembly without requiring subsequent adhesive application steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining container stability.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical locking mechanisms are implemented, then the ease of assembly and hygiene compliance is improved, but the blank design complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The container blank is segmented into distinct functional zones with standardized interlocking modules. Each section incorporates predefined tabs, slots, and mechanical joining features that can be manufactured using standard precision cutting and folding equipment. This modular segmentation allows for easier quality control and assembly while distributing the precision requirements across multiple standardized features rather than requiring extreme precision throughout the entire blank.
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.