Curled Container Flange Structure for Stable Heat Sealing and Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for food and beverages experience deformation of the flange part during sealing and opening, leading to poor fitting and openability issues, especially under strong sealing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a flange part with a first curl portion and a second curl portion bonded at one location, creating a space inside the second curl portion, which acts as a cushion during sealing, and a step portion to stabilize the outer diameter and facilitate easy opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the flange part is formed with a curl shape to improve sealing contact, then the seal member bonding is enhanced, but the flange part deforms during sealing causing outer diameter change and poor lid fitting
Solution Approach 1:
The flange part is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first curl portion for seal contact, a bonding portion for structural integrity, and a second curl portion forming a hollow space for cushioning. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with the outer diameter stability required for lid fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flange part are given different structural properties: the first curl portion has a curled shape for sealing contact, the bonding portion provides structural support, and the second curl portion creates a hollow space for cushioning during sealing. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing deformation in specific zones while maintaining overall dimensional stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the flange part is pressed flat to reduce deformation, then the outer diameter stability improves, but the sealing contact and openability are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The flange part is divided into functional segments where the first curl portion maintains contact with the seal member for opening, the bonding portion ensures structural integrity, and the second curl portion with hollow space provides cushioning. This segmentation enables both dimensional stability and ease of opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow space in the second curl portion acts as a pre-formed cushion that absorbs sealing load before it reaches the flange structure. This beforehand cushioning prevents excessive deformation while maintaining the curl shape needed for easy opening.
3Strength
If strong sealing is applied to resin cups, then the sealing strength is sufficient, but the seal member cannot be opened easily under the same sealing conditions for paper cups
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow space in the second curl portion serves as a pre-designed cushion zone that absorbs sealing load. This allows strong sealing to be applied without making the seal member difficult to open, as the cushion space prevents excessive bonding strength that would hinder opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange part structure changes the effective parameters of sealing: the hollow space modifies the pressure distribution and bonding characteristics, allowing strong sealing under controlled conditions while maintaining ease of opening through the curl portions that can deform to initiate peeling.
4Strength
If the flange part is given a curl shape to facilitate seal member bonding, then the sealing contact is improved, but the flange part deforms during opening making stable opening impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The flange part is segmented into a first curl portion that maintains shape for seal contact, a bonding portion for structural support, and a second curl portion with hollow space for cushioning. This segmentation allows the first curl to remain stable while the second curl absorbs deformation during opening.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the flange have different structural qualities: the first curl portion maintains its shape for stable seal contact, while the second curl portion with hollow space is designed to deform in a controlled manner during opening, providing local flexibility without compromising overall stability.
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 design suppresses deformation of the flange part during sealing and opening, allowing for stable and easy opening even under strong sealing conditions by forming a notch for easy peeling.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member that has a thermoplastic resin to be bonded to an upper surface of the flange part by heat sealing
Implementation Method 2
the space works as a cushion during the heat sealing of the seal member (springback effect)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A container includes: a cylindrical body part that is formed from a body member; a flange part that is formed by rolling one end of the body member outward; a bottom part that is formed from another end of the body member and a bottom member; and a seal member that has a thermoplastic resin to be bonded to an upper surface of the flange part by heat sealing. The flange part includes a first curl portion located on an outermost circumference of the body part in a radial direction, and a second curl portion overlapping with the first curl portion on an inside of the first curl portion. The flange part also includes a bonding portion that bonds the first curl portion and the second curl portion to each other in at least one location in a cross-sectional view in the radial direction, and has a space inside the second curl portion, the space having a thickness equal to or larger than a thickness of the body member.