Dual-Structure Container With Contraction-Control Grooves

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing dual-structure containers, such as the stack preform method, face challenges with irregular contraction of the inner bag container during content liquid discharge, leading to difficulties in stable liquid discharge due to irregular deformation and potential blockage of the discharge passage.

Innovation Solution

The use of an inner bag container preform with contraction-control grooves formed on its surface, which are thinner than the rest of the container, allows for controlled contraction during liquid discharge, preventing irregular deformation and maintaining a stable discharge passage by simultaneous stretch-blow molding using the stack preform method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the inner bag container is made with uniform thickness, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the contraction becomes irregular causing passage blockage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoiddischarge passage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The inner bag container is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring thinner portions at specific locations (such as the bottom and sides) and thicker portions at other locations. This local variation in thickness allows the thinner areas to contract more easily and regularly during discharge, preventing passage blockage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through injection molding with varied wall thickness specifications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the inner bag container contracts irregularly, then the container can accommodate discharged liquid volume, but the discharge passage gets crushed and blockage occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarged liquid volumeVSAvoiddischarge function
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By creating localized thin portions in the inner bag container wall, the design enables these specific areas to serve as contraction zones that maintain the discharge passage open. The thinner walls flex and contract in a controlled manner that accommodates volume changes without crushing the passage, ensuring continuous discharge functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If direct blow-molding is used to produce dual-structure container, then the production steps are integrated, but multi-cavity molding is difficult and productivity is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process integrationVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The dual-structure container is divided into two separate preforms (inner bag preform and outer container preform) that are molded independently in multi-cavity molds. These preforms are then assembled by inserting one into the other, allowing simultaneous production of multiple containers while maintaining the integrated structure benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This approach effectively stabilizes the discharge of the content liquid by controlling the contraction of the inner bag container, preventing passage blockage and ensuring continuous and smooth liquid discharge, while also simplifying the manufacturing process by avoiding complex mold structures and operations.

Implementation Method 1

simultaneous stretch-blow molding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3756854B1Dual-structure container with inner bag container having excellent regular contractility
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 TOYO SEIKAN GRP HLDG LTD
  • EP3756854B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~2
  • EP3756854B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3756854B1 patent drawingFigure 5(a)~5(b)

AI summary

The present invention provides a dual-structure container to control contraction of an inner bag container so as to effectively solve a problem of difficulty in discharge of a content liquid, which may occur during discharge of the content liquid. The dual-structure container of the present invention includes an inner bag container 31 and an outer container 41 obtained by simultaneous stretch-blow molding according to a stack preform method using an inner bag container preform 1 and an outer container preform 3. On a body 33 of the inner bag container 31, contraction-control thin portions 50 are formed at a plurality of sites at intervals in the circumferential direction such that the thin portions 50 extend like strips in the axial direction.