Flexible Containers Variable Sizing TRIZ Case

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rigid containers for fluent products are expensive to produce, require significant materials, are difficult to decorate, prone to damage, and challenging to resize without incurring high costs and time-consuming mold changes, making it hard for manufacturers to adjust product sizes efficiently.

Innovation Solution

Flexible containers made from materials that can be easily converted into various sizes without the need for new equipment, offering reduced material usage, easier decoration, and improved durability, allowing for efficient resizing and cost-effective production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional rigid containers are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but production cost increases and material usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies flexible plastic material to form container bodies that replace conventional rigid structures. The flexible material is formed into seamless container bodies through extrusion and forming processes, providing both structural integrity and cost efficiency. The material flexibility allows the container to be lightweight yet durable, resolving the contradiction between using expensive rigid materials and maintaining structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If rigid container sizes are changed, then product size adaptation is achieved, but mold changes are required causing time loss and increased cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct size adaptationVSAvoidmold change time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic sizing system where a single flexible container mold can produce multiple container sizes by adjusting forming parameters. The flexible material allows the same mold to be reconfigured for different volumes and shapes without physical mold changes. This dynamic adaptability enables manufacturers to respond quickly to market demands for different product sizes, eliminating the time loss associated with mold changes while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional rigid containers are used, then durability is achieved, but decoration difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecoration easeVSAvoiddurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible plastic container body provides a smooth, continuous surface that is ideal for decoration applications. The material can be easily printed, labeled, or decorated with graphics while maintaining its structural integrity. The flexibility of the material allows for various decorating techniques including direct printing, adhesive labeling, and embossing, making decoration much easier compared to rigid containers while preserving durability through the choice of robust flexible materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS11091306B2Flexible containers with easily variable sizing

Publication Date: 2021.08.17 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers with easily variable sizing. Line ups of flexible containers have similar sizes, shapes, and constructions, but hold differing amounts of fluent product at unexpected fill heights.