Inverted-Hook Groove for Plant-Fiber Cup Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermal compression molding techniques for plant-fiber molded cup lids cannot produce an inverted-hook groove, preventing them from being tightly and closely combined with the upper edge of a primary cup body due to the inability to create negative angles in the molding process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of an outer mold with a transversely annular slide groove and shaping slide blocks, a shaping roller, or an air bag to form an inverted-hook groove on the thermally compressed and shaped plant-fiber molded cup lid, allowing for the creation of a negative angle and enabling a secure fit with the primary cup body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If thermal compression molding is used to shape the plant-fiber molded cup lid, then the molding process is simplified and energy is saved, but the inverted-hook groove cannot be formed preventing tight combination with the cup body
Solution Approach 1:
The molding process is divided into two independent stages: first, thermal compression molding forms the basic cup lid shape; second, a separate groove forming device creates the inverted-hook groove. This segmentation allows each process to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove forming device is designed with pre-positioned shaping slides that are already configured with the inverted-hook groove geometry before the molding process begins. This preliminary preparation ensures the groove can be formed accurately in the second stage without requiring complex real-time adjustments.
2Reliability
If the mold structure is designed to produce an inverted-hook groove, then the cup lid can be tightly combined with the cup body, but the mold cannot be opened smoothly to release the product
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is segmented into two functional parts: a standard molding section for forming the cup lid body, and a separate groove forming section with movable shaping slides. This allows the main mold to open smoothly while the groove forming section independently creates the negative-angle groove after the lid is released.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove forming device uses movable shaping slides that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation. During mold opening, these slides retract or rotate to avoid interfering with product release, then reposition to form the groove on the released lid, combining dynamic flexibility with precise groove formation.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional thermal compression steps are added to form the inverted-hook groove, then the groove can be formed, but energy consumption increases and production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove forming device is integrated into the existing thermal compression molding press, combining two functions (basic shaping and groove forming) into a single continuous operation. The shaping slides utilize the same heat and pressure already applied during molding, eliminating the need for separate thermal compression steps and associated energy 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
Enables the formation of an inverted-hook groove on plant-fiber molded cup lids, allowing them to be firmly and closely combined with the upper edge of a primary cup body, while also reducing the need for additional thermal compression steps and saving heat energy costs.
Implementation Method 1
The temperature of thermal compression is 150° C.±10° C. and the time of thermal compression depends on the volume
Implementation Method 2
make the surface of the molded cup lid deformed together with the shape of the shaping ridge and contracted into the receiving groove
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making an inverted-hook groove for a plant fiber-molded cup lid is to form an inverted-hook groove on a side surface of a plant-fiber molded cup lid, which has already been thermally compressed and shaped, processed and shaped once more to form an inverted-hook groove at the side surface of the molded cup lid so that the molded cup lid with the inverted-hook groove can be tightly and closely combined with the upper edge of a primary cup body. The method of making an inverted-hook groove for a plant-fiber molded cup lid of this invention is classified into three kinds; a method of compression shaping directly, a method of roller compression shaping and a method of air bag compression shaping.