Flexible Carrier for Compact Container Unitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container carriers have a large footprint and use excessive material, leading to inefficient unitization of containers, which results in a bulky and unstable package.
Innovation Solution
A flexible carrier with a smaller footprint, made of a single layer of flexible sheet with elongated container receiving apertures arranged in rows and ranks, featuring interconnecting webs that stretch and recover to form a tight, unitized brick-like package, utilizing a narrower configuration and additional material in critical zones to maintain integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional container carriers are used to unitize containers, then the containers are secured and organized, but the carrier has a large footprint and uses excessive material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible plastic sheet as the carrier material, which can be stretched and conform to the container array. This flexible film approach replaces rigid or bulky conventional carriers, reducing material usage and footprint while maintaining the ability to secure containers effectively. The flexible nature allows the carrier to adapt to the container shapes and sizes, minimizing excess material.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier incorporates stretchable and resilient properties, allowing it to dynamically adapt to the container array during application and maintain secure engagement. The material can stretch during application and then recover to provide continuous securing force, enabling a more compact and material-efficient design compared to static conventional carriers.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional container carriers are used to unitize containers, then the containers are held together, but the resulting package is bulky and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible plastic sheet carrier conforms closely to the container array, creating a tight and compact unitized package. This close conforming reduces the overall package volume compared to bulky conventional carriers, while the flexibility ensures stable engagement with the containers, preventing shifting or instability during handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier utilizes changes in material properties through stretching and recovery. During application, the material stretches to accommodate the container array, then recovers to provide continuous securing force, maintaining package stability. This dynamic parameter change allows for a more compact and stable package structure.
3Loss of substance
If the carrier is made with narrower configuration and less material, then material usage is reduced, but the integrity and securing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the stretch and recovery characteristics of the flexible plastic material to maintain integrity with less material. The material can stretch during application to ensure proper engagement, then recovers to provide continuous securing force, compensating for the reduced material quantity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic properties of the flexible material allow it to adapt and maintain securing capability with reduced material. The resilience and elasticity enable the carrier to maintain engagement force and integrity even with a narrower configuration, as the material dynamically responds to applied forces rather than relying on excessive material quantity.
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 flexible carrier achieves a compact, stable unitization of containers using less material, allowing for efficient packaging with reduced material waste and improved handling characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible carrier is made from a stretchable and resilient material that allows the carrier to be stretched during application and then recover to apply continuous securing force around the container array.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures that includes at least two rows of generally triangular shaped container receiving apertures each having an outer band including a pair of outwardly extending protrusions. The carrier further includes a separation aperture formed between each transverse rank of container receiving apertures whereby a width of the separation aperture is approximately equal to a width between each separation aperture.