Gable-Top Paper Container Folding for Stable Stacking and Resealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gable top-type paper containers face challenges in stable stacking, space efficiency during transportation, and effective resealing, particularly when dealing with contents of varying viscosities, due to limitations in top surface inclination angles and resealing mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A paper container design with specific angle settings for top surface forming panels, auxiliary folding lines, and a cutout portion, allowing for stable stacking, reduced space usage, and efficient resealing without additional clips or chucks, by utilizing a paperboard material with thermoplastic resin laminates and defined folding mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the inclination angle of top surfaces is reduced to improve stacking stability and space efficiency, then stacking stability and space utilization are improved, but the ability to maintain resealing state deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestacking stabilityVSAvoidresealing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the inclination angle of top surface forming panels to a specific range (5-20 degrees) to simultaneously achieve stable stacking and effective resealing. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point where both stacking stability and resealing capability are satisfied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of stationary object

If the inclination angle of top surfaces is reduced to decrease accommodation space, then space efficiency is improved, but stacking stability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation spaceVSAvoidstacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent determines the optimal inclination angle range (5-20 degrees) that minimizes accommodation space while maintaining stacking stability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between space efficiency and stacking stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the inclination angle of top surfaces is increased to improve resealing capability, then resealing capability is improved, but stacking stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresealing capabilityVSAvoidstacking stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the inclination angle to a specific range (5-20 degrees) that provides sufficient resealing capability while preventing excessive inclination that would compromise stacking stability. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between resealing capability and stacking stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If additional sealing mechanisms (clips or chucks) are added to improve resealing capability, then resealing capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresealing capabilityVSAvoidsealing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the paper container to perform its own sealing function by utilizing the folding mechanism of side surface forming panels and the geometry of top surface forming panels. The container structure itself provides the sealing action without requiring external clips or chucks, thus resolving the contradiction between resealing capability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

5Ease of operation

If the top portion is fully opened to extract high viscosity content, then extractability of high viscosity content is improved, but resealing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent extractabilityVSAvoidresealing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the top portion into separable components: top surface forming panels that can be fully opened for high viscosity content extraction, and side surface forming panels with folding mechanisms that enable resealing. This segmentation allows the container to provide both full opening capability and effective resealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic folding mechanisms in the side surface forming panels that allow the top portion to transition between open and closed states. This dynamic structure enables full opening for extracting high viscosity content while maintaining the ability to reseal effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4613666A1Paper container
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 NIPPON PAPER IND CO LTD
  • EP4613666A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4613666A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4613666A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In order to obtain a paper container that is a gable top-type paper container, which can achieve ease of stacking and space saving of an accommodation place at the time of transportation or the like, and which enables maintaining a state of resealing by pushing into an upper end portion, provided is a paper container, in which an angle formed by each of side surface forming panels (23, 24) and an upper edge (44) of each of body forming panels (7, 9) with which the side surface forming panels (23, 24) are contiguous is set to 2 degrees or more and 20 degrees or less; first auxiliary folding lines (32, 33) are formed on each of top surface forming panels (16, 17) so as to extend from right and left positions of a lower end of each of the top surface forming panels (16, 17) to positions closer to a center position of an upper end of each of the top surface forming panels (16, 17); and a length (L1) between intersections (34, 35) at which first auxiliary folding lines (32, 33) and a lower end of each of outer-side top sealing panels (14, 15) intersect with each other is set to from 5% to 50% of a lateral length (L2) of each of the outer-side top sealing panels (14, 15).