Foldable Bulk Container Lid With Suction Adapter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lids for bulk goods containers are not suitable for guiding suction tubes, are easily damaged, prone to contamination, and inefficient in space usage, leading to quality fluctuations and increased costs due to inhomogeneous emptying and contamination issues.
Innovation Solution
A foldable lid design with compact folding capabilities, featuring side elements that can be attached to the container wall, a push-through opening with a molded adapter for secure suction tube insertion, and optional desiccants or grounding devices to prevent contamination and static issues, made from durable and antistatic materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a corrugated cardboard lid is used, then the lid is lightweight and inexpensive, but it is easy to damage and not durable
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is made from a composite material consisting of a cardboard base layer and a plastic coating layer. The plastic layer provides durability, moisture resistance, and contamination protection while the cardboard core maintains light weight and low manufacturing cost. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between using inexpensive materials and achieving reliable, durable performance.
2Ease of operation
If the lid is completely removed or placed on to form a through slot, then the suction tube can be inserted, but the bulk goods are less well protected from contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is pre-equipped with a push-through opening and a molded adapter that guides the suction tube through the lid while maintaining sealing. This preliminary preparation allows the suction tube to be inserted without removing or compromising the lid structure, thus preventing contamination while enabling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The molded adapter acts as an intermediary component between the lid and the suction tube. It provides a sealed interface that allows the suction tube to pass through while maintaining the protective barrier, thus enabling tube insertion without compromising contamination protection.
3Ease of operation
If the suction tube is simply inserted, then the insertion is quick, but the suction tube may be displaced off-centre leading to inhomogeneous emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The molded adapter serves as a guiding intermediary that constrains the suction tube to a centered position during insertion and operation. The adapter's geometry provides lateral support and alignment features that prevent off-center displacement, ensuring uniform emptying while maintaining quick insertion through the pre-formed opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The molded adapter includes visual indicators such as alignment marks or color-coded features that guide operators to insert the suction tube in the correct centered position. These visual cues enable quick, accurate insertion without requiring complex alignment procedures, thus maintaining operational speed while ensuring precision.
4Strength
If rigid snap-on lids are used, then the lid provides strong closure, but it requires a lot of space and is bulky to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates flexible side elements that can be folded or collapsed when not in use, transforming the lid from a rigid, space-consuming structure to a compact, flexible form. During operation, these side elements provide the necessary closure strength and structural support, while in storage they can be folded to minimize space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The side elements of the lid are designed to fold inward and nest against the central lid body when not in use. This nesting configuration allows the lid to be stored in a compact form factor, significantly reducing the space required for storage and handling while maintaining full closure strength when deployed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover for a container, in particular a bulk container. Said cover comprises a first cover element (1) and at least one second cover element (1a) which can be folded with respect to the first cover element (1) and which is connected to a first side (11, 12) of the first cover element. Said cover can also comprise two second cover elements (1a) which can be folded with respect to the first cover element (1) and which can be connected to the first cover element (1) on opposite first sides (11, 12) thereof.