Flexible Container Blank With Integrated Handling Feature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rigid containers for fluent products are expensive to produce and require complex, energy-intensive processes, making it costly and time-consuming to change their size or shape.

Innovation Solution

A flexible container blank with an integrated article handling feature that allows for universal adaptability during manufacturing, enabling the production of flexible packages with different features on a single production line using a common handling feature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid containers are made by molding processes, then container strength and rigidity are improved, but production cost and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies flexible container blanks made from layered flexible materials instead of rigid molded structures. The flexible blank includes a front panel, back panel, and side panels that can be sealed and inflated to create a rigid-like structure when needed, while being much cheaper and easier to manufacture from flexible material sheets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and properties of the container material from rigid molded plastic to flexible inflatable material. By controlling the inflation state and material properties, the container can transition between flexible and rigid-like states, achieving strength requirements while reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If rigid container molds are changed to produce different sizes and shapes, then product variety is improved, but production time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer size and shape varietyVSAvoidmold change time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a universal flexible blank design that can be configured into multiple container sizes and shapes by varying the inflation parameters, panel dimensions, and sealing patterns. The same basic flexible blank structure serves multiple product variants without requiring dedicated molds for each size or shape.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic configuration of the flexible container blank through adjustable inflation levels, variable panel arrangements, and reconfigurable sealing patterns. This allows the same blank structure to adapt to different container specifications on-demand during production, eliminating static mold requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If rigid container equipment is modified to produce different container sizes and shapes, then product variety is improved, but modification cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer size and shape varietyVSAvoidequipment modification cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs handling equipment that works universally with flexible container blanks of various sizes and shapes through standardized gripping interfaces and positioning systems. The equipment interacts with common features of the flexible blanks (such as sealed edges or specific attachment points) rather than being customized for each container variant, eliminating modification costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If flexible container blanks with different features are produced on separate production lines, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer feature precisionVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a single production line capable of manufacturing flexible container blanks with different features by using universal handling equipment and standardized blank designs. The production line maintains precision through consistent sealing processes, controlled inflation, and standardized quality checks that work across all container variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple specialized production processes into a single integrated production line that handles flexible container blanks universally. By combining sealing, inflation, filling, and quality control operations in one continuous process flow, the system achieves both precision and high productivity without requiring separate dedicated lines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11338975B2Container blanks for flexible packages and methods of making flexible packages

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A container blank having an article handling feature for handling the container blank as well as the flexible packages made therefrom during manufacture, and method of making flexible packages using such a feature are described herein. Also described herein is an array of flexible packages containing a common article handling feature provided by such a method.