Glass Article Bundle Spacing with Thread Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for bundling tubular and/or rod-shaped glass articles fail to provide a sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient way to space apart glass articles during shipment, leading to surface defects and particle contamination, while also being cumbersome and inefficient for unpacking.
Innovation Solution
A bundle of tubular and/or rod-shaped glass articles is arranged in layers with thread-like elements wrapped around them to create spacing, using a thread-like element with a specific cross-section and tensile elasticity to secure and easily unpack the glass articles, reducing direct contact and facilitating easy handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass articles are arranged in close packing to maximize space utilization, then shipping efficiency is improved, but surface defects and particle contamination occur due to direct contact and relative movement between articles
Solution Approach 1:
Cardboard spacers are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent glass articles. These spacers act as mediators that prevent direct contact between glass surfaces, eliminating scratches and particle generation while maintaining close packing arrangement for efficient shipping. The spacers are positioned at multiple locations along the glass articles to ensure complete separation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If individual packaging is used for each glass article to prevent surface defects, then product quality is improved, but packing cost and material consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of wrapping each glass article individually, the packaging system is segmented into shared cardboard spacers that serve multiple articles simultaneously. These spacers are distributed throughout the bundle to provide protection at critical contact points, achieving surface defect prevention with minimal material consumption compared to individual packaging.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cardboard spacers are used to prevent direct contact between glass articles, then surface quality is improved, but the complexity of the packaging structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cardboard spacers are strategically placed at specific locations along the glass articles where contact and potential damage are most likely to occur. This localized approach provides surface protection without requiring complete encapsulation, thereby minimizing packaging structure complexity while effectively preventing surface defects at critical areas.
4Productivity
If multiple layers of glass articles are stacked to maximize shipping density, then shipping efficiency is improved, but the risk of tilting and twisting during handling increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cardboard spacers are pre-positioned between glass articles in multiple layers before stacking. These spacers create predetermined separation and alignment features that prevent tilting and twisting during subsequent handling operations. The spacers act as mechanical stops and alignment guides that maintain bundle stability throughout the shipping process.
Data Source
AI summary
A bundle of tubular and/or rod-shaped glass articles is provided that includes a longest dimension, a plurality of layers (NL) of the glass articles, and a thread-like element. The longest dimension extends in a first direction. The glass articles in each layer are arranged side by side in a second direction. The plurality of layers are arranged side by side in a third direction. The first, second, and third directions being perpendicular to one another. The thread-like element is around two of the glass articles in at least one layer so that the two glass articles are spaced apart. The thread-like element has a cross section between at least 0.25 mm and at most 4.0 mm.