Flexible Container Carrier With Score Lines For Divisible Multipackages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional container carriers lack the ability to adjust the size of multipackages flexibly, particularly for odd numbers of containers, which can compromise the integrity of sub-packages when divided.
Innovation Solution
A flexible container carrier with elongated container receiving apertures and intermediate cutouts, along with side lift handles and center perforations, allowing for easy division into sub-packages while maintaining package integrity, enabling the unitization of odd numbers of containers and flexible multipackaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional container carriers are used to unitize containers, then the containers can be grouped into multipackages, but the carriers cannot be easily divided into sub-packages without compromising integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier is divided into multiple panels separated by score lines that create predetermined break points. This segmentation allows the carrier to be easily divided into sub-packages while maintaining the integrity of each section, as the score lines guide clean breaks along the panel separations.
Solution Approach 2:
Score lines are pre-formed on the carrier panels during manufacturing, creating predetermined weak points that facilitate future division. This preliminary action prepares the carrier for easy division into sub-packages while ensuring that when divided, the breaks occur cleanly along the score lines, preserving sub-package integrity.
2Productivity
If containers are unitized in fixed multipackages, then packaging efficiency is maintained, but the ability to accommodate odd numbers of containers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier design allows dynamic adjustment of package configuration by enabling division into different numbers of sub-packages. Users can divide the carrier into 2, 3, or more sub-packages depending on the number of containers, allowing odd numbers of containers to be packaged efficiently while maintaining overall packaging productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier serves multiple functions: it can unitize containers in various configurations (odd or even numbers), maintain packaging efficiency through standardized panel structures, and enable flexible division into sub-packages. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between productivity and adaptability.
3Strength
If the carrier structure is made robust to maintain integrity, then package strength is improved, but ease of division into sub-packages is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier has different structural qualities in different locations: panels are constructed with sufficient strength for handling and protection, while score lines create localized weak points that facilitate easy division. This local differentiation allows the carrier to be both strong where needed and easily dividable where score lines are provided.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier is segmented into panels separated by score lines, creating distinct structural zones. The panels maintain strength for package integrity, while the score lines provide controlled weak points for easy division, resolving the contradiction between overall strength and ease of division.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A flexible container carrier 10 for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands 20 that form an array of container receiving apertures 30, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A handle 40 is formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures. Two or more sets of perforations 50 are formed between each row of container receiving apertures and between center apertures.