Folded Tray with Partition Walls for Non-Flat Product Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing paper or cardboard trays for transporting and displaying foodstuff products lack stability during handling and transport, especially when containing non-flat bottomed items, and require complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A tray design featuring a single folded sheet with perpendicular side walls and separating walls that create compartments, providing support and stability through connecting points and gluing points, allowing for easy assembly and stacking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a folded sheet container with reduced height side walls is used, then the structure is simple and low-cost, but the stability during handling and transport deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidstability during handling and transport
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The tray is divided into multiple compartments by partition walls, with each compartment independently supporting products. This segmentation provides stable support for non-flat bottomed items while maintaining the overall simple folded sheet structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls extend vertically to a height greater than the side walls, creating a three-dimensional support structure that prevents product displacement during transport, adding vertical dimensionality to the support function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If connecting portions are provided between separating walls and side walls, then stability is improved, but the assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability during handling and transportVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting portions are integrated directly into the folded sheet structure during manufacturing, merging the connection function with the structural elements. This allows stable connections between partition walls and side walls while maintaining simple assembly from a single pre-formed sheet

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separating walls extend beyond side walls in vertical direction, then product support is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct support capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition walls are pre-formed to extend beyond the side walls in the folded sheet structure before products are placed. This preliminary configuration ensures immediate product support capability while avoiding complex post-assembly manufacturing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3653521B1Tray for transporting and displaying foodstuff products
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 SOREMARTEC SA(BE)
  • EP3653521B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3653521B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3653521B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A tray is described for transporting and displaying foodstuff products, comprising a sheet that is folded so as to define: - a bottom (2); - a first pair of side walls (4, 6) oriented along a first direction (Y); and - a second pair of side walls (8, 12) oriented along a second direction (X) transversal to said first direction (Y), said tray being characterized in that said folded sheet, furthermore, defines: two separating walls (14, 16) that extend along said first direction (Y), and are parallel to one another and are spaced apart from each other so as to divide the tray in distinct compartments (C); wherein said separating walls (14, 16) extend along said first direction (Y) so far as to place respective opposite edges immediately next to said second pair of side walls (8, 12), wherein said separating walls (14, 16) and/or said second pair of side walls (8, 12) have connecting portions (132) that connect said opposite edges of said separating walls (14, 16) to said second pair of side walls (8, 12).