Glass Body Packaging with Thread-Like Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for packaging glass tubes result in surface injuries and scratches during handling, transportation, and storage, leading to cosmetic defects, reduced strength, and potential breakage, which can cause contamination and incorrect detection in inspection systems.
Innovation Solution
A vitreous body layer with thread-like spacers arranged between glass bodies to maintain them at a distance, preventing direct contact and using a wrapping process similar to the chain stitch method for producing seams to secure the layers, ensuring stability and easy unpacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass tubes are arranged tightly in layers and bundles to achieve compact packaging, then packaging efficiency is improved, but surface damage and scratches occur during handling and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cardboard dividers as intermediary elements placed between glass tubes in the same layer and between layers. These dividers act as mediators that prevent direct glass-to-glass contact during packaging, handling, and transport, thereby eliminating surface damage and scratches while maintaining compact packaging arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packaging structure by inserting cardboard dividers at multiple positions - between individual tubes within a layer and between different layers. This segmentation creates separate compartments that prevent contact between glass surfaces while allowing tight overall packaging density
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cardboard dividers are placed between glass tubes to prevent contact, then surface damage is reduced, but the dividers leave marks on the glass tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the cardboard dividers are positioned precisely at the contact points between glass tubes - only where contact occurs - rather than covering the entire surface. This localized placement prevents surface damage at critical points while minimizing the total contact area between cardboard and glass, thereby reducing mark formation
3Stability of the object's composition
If shrink film is used to protect and hold together the entire pallet, then packaging stability is improved, but the weight increases to approximately 800 kg
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the packaging system into multiple components: cardboard dividers for internal separation, shrink film for external protection and stabilization, and a pallet structure for support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the dividers prevent internal contact damage while the shrink film provides external stability - without requiring excessive material thickness that would increase weight
4Manufacturing precision
If glass tubes are surface-coated to minimize scratching, then visual quality is improved, but the coating wears away during contact and scratches still occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cardboard dividers as protective intermediaries that prevent direct glass-to-glass contact. This mechanical separation eliminates the wear process that causes coating degradation, allowing the surface coating to maintain its integrity and protective function throughout packaging, handling, and transport operations
Data Source
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AI summary
A glass body arrangement 110 with at least two glass bodies 50 is described, which extend in a z-direction and are arranged side by side in an x-direction, wherein at least two spacer positions 112 are provided along the z-direction at a distance A from each other, in which spacers are arranged between the glass bodies 50. The spacers are thread-like elements 10, 20, 30, wherein at least one thread-like element 10, 20, 30 is provided in each spacer position 112.