End-Hinged Produce Container Lid Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current produce containers, such as clamshells, often have lids that interfere with adjacent containers when opened on a tray, hindering the efficient filling and cooling of produce.
Innovation Solution
Design of end-hinged produce containers with vents on the longer sides to allow for open configuration without lid interference, facilitating cross-directional air flow and easy stacking, and featuring button locks for secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If produce containers are opened for filling on a tray, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but the lid of one container interferes with adjacent containers
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is repositioned from the long side to the short end of the rectangular container. This dimensional change in hinge location allows lids to open in a direction perpendicular to the container arrangement on the tray, eliminating interference with adjacent containers while maintaining easy access for filling
2Temperature
If containers are designed for forced air cooling with openings, then cooling efficiency is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Openings are strategically positioned at specific locations on the container (short ends and/or long sides) rather than uniformly distributed. This localized venting provides sufficient cooling air flow paths while maintaining structural integrity in the majority of the container walls
3Illumination intensity
If containers are made thin-walled for visual appeal, then consumer attraction is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid and main container body are formed as a single integral piece rather than separate components. This merging simplifies manufacturing processes while maintaining the thin-walled transparent design for visual appeal and eliminates the need for separate lid attachment mechanisms
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 efficient filling and cooling of produce by preventing lid interference, ensuring unobstructed access to adjacent containers and maintaining structural integrity during stacking and cooling processes.
Implementation Method 1
the clamshells have openings in various locations which allow for forced air cooling to flow through the closed clamshell and cool the produce
Data Source
AI summary
A container for produce adapted to open along a short end of the rectangular container. A produce packing system wherein the produce containers may be placed into a tray in such a fashion that the likelihood of a container's lid blocking another container is greatly reduced, if not wholly eliminated. The containers may have a plurality of vents.