Honeycomb Reusable Plastic Container for Turbulent Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable plastics containers face issues with deformation during cleaning, high material consumption, and increased weight due to thick walls, which affect ecological balance and production costs, while existing cleaning methods like alkaline solutions lead to stress cracks and saponification, limiting their reuse.
Innovation Solution
A reusable plastics container design featuring a honeycomb structure with depressions and ribs, or grooves at specific angles, allowing direct exposure to washing liquids, promoting turbulence and efficient cleaning, while reducing wall thickness for lower weight and material consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the container wall thickness is increased to prevent deformation during cleaning, then the container stability is improved, but the container weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall is segmented into multiple layers with different functions: an inner layer for chemical resistance and an outer layer for mechanical strength. This allows each layer to be optimized independently, achieving both stability and weight reduction compared to a single thick wall design
Solution Approach 2:
The container uses composite material construction with at least two different plastic materials having different properties. The inner layer uses material resistant to alkaline solutions, while the outer layer provides mechanical strength, creating a synergistic effect that reduces overall weight while maintaining stability
2Productivity
If alkaline solutions are used for cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but stress cracks and saponification occur in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The container wall is divided into functional layers: the inner layer specifically resists chemical degradation from alkaline solutions, while the outer layer handles mechanical properties. This segmentation allows the container to withstand harsh cleaning conditions without cracking or degrading
Solution Approach 2:
The inner layer acts as an intermediary barrier between the alkaline cleaning solution and the outer structural layer. This protective interface prevents direct chemical attack on the container structure, eliminating stress cracks and saponification while allowing effective cleaning
3Weight of moving object
If the container wall thickness is reduced to lower weight, then the material consumption is reduced, but the container becomes more prone to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
By using composite materials with different properties in different layers, the container achieves high strength-to-weight ratio. The inner layer provides chemical resistance and the outer layer provides mechanical strength, allowing thinner walls that reduce weight while maintaining stability
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the container wall have different material compositions optimized for their specific functions. The inner surface uses material optimized for chemical resistance, while the outer surface uses material optimized for mechanical strength, allowing local optimization that reduces overall material consumption
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 design ensures effective cleaning with minimal residual liquid and germ discharge, maintaining rigidity, and reducing weight, thus improving ecological and economic efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the possibility of directly exposing the surfaces, high flow speeds and turbulence of the washing liquid at the surface can be achieved
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a reusable plastics container (100), comprising a container body (20), a container base (10) and a container opening (30) located opposite the container base. A repeating structure (21), in particular a honeycomb structure, formed by depressions (22) and ribs (23) surrounding the depressions (22) is disposed on the container body (20). Alternatively, grooves are disposed on the container body. At least 90% of the surfaces of the depressions (22) and of the ribs (23) and/or the grooves are visible from the container opening (30).