Heat-Shrinkable Holder for Secure Article Unitization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging methods, such as stretch-loaded carriers and shrink-wrapping, face challenges including difficulty in removing individual items without compromising the entire package, potential damage from item contact, and inefficiencies in material use and manufacturing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A heat-shrinkable holder system using two sheets of heat-shrinkable material joined to create openings larger than the articles, allowing for secure unitization without direct contact and enabling easy removal of individual items, with options for configurations like two-by-three or two-by-four arrangements and inclusion of perforations or handles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stretch-loaded carriers are used to secure containers, then the containers are unitized into a package, but it becomes difficult to remove individual containers without compromising the entire package
Solution Approach 1:
The shrink-wrap film is divided into multiple sheets with gaps between them, creating separate openings for each container. This segmentation allows individual containers to be removed independently while the remaining containers stay secured, resolving the contradiction between maintaining package integrity and enabling easy individual removal.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional shrink-wrapping is used, then the film extends only around the outside of the articles, but individual articles may contact each other leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The shrink-wrap film is configured with local variations: some portions form openings that allow articles to be individually removed, while other portions maintain contact between adjacent articles for stability. This local quality differentiation prevents damage while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Reliability
If stretch-loaded carriers are used, then containers are secured together, but the complexity of manufacture and use increases substantially with the number of containers
Solution Approach 1:
The shrink-wrap film serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures containers together, allows individual removal through gaps, provides stability through controlled contact, and can be manufactured in a standardized manner regardless of the number of containers. This multi-functionality reduces complexity while maintaining reliability.
4Reliability
If stretch-loaded carriers are used, then containers are held by the carrier, but the plastics are not sufficiently transparent or translucent to allow viewing of indicia on the containers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by using transparent or translucent shrink-wrap film instead of opaque plastic carrier material. This parameter change maintains the securing function while improving indicia visibility, allowing customers to view product information without removing containers from the package.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The heat-shrinkable holder system effectively secures articles without direct contact, allowing for easy removal and reducing material waste, while maintaining package integrity and simplifying the packaging process.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second sheets being heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit
Implementation Method 2
The load and film are then passed into a heating tunnel causing the film to shrink and compress against the load
Data Source
AI summary
A heat-shrinkable holder is disclosed for securing a plurality of articles. The holder may include a first sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material, and a second sheet formed of heat-shrinkable material and joined to the first sheet. The first sheet and the second sheet each have a substantially equal pre-shrinking length, and are joined so as to create at least two openings therebetween. Each of the openings is sized larger than one of the articles. The first and second sheets are heat-shrinkable to an extent to shrink the openings sufficiently to secure two of the articles together into a unit. Various modifications and additions are possible, including use of more than three sheets, providing for the reading of printed indicia on the articles or holder, providing a handle. Numerous orientations and collections of articles are possible. Related packages including a holder and articles are also disclosed, as well as related methods of manufacture of the holder and package.