Stackable Plastic Container Label Holder Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Stackable plastic transport and storage containers face damage to label holders when stacked or cleaned, particularly due to the presence of a lower limiting web that can tear off during use and exposure to cleaning liquids.

Innovation Solution

The label holder design features only two lateral clamping webs that fix labels on their narrow sides, eliminating the lower limiting web and ensuring the label is securely held without risk of damage, with clamping webs oriented to prevent damage during stacking and cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lower limiting rib is used in the label holder to secure the label, then the label is held firmly, but the rib is prone to tearing off during stacking and cleaning operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabel holder durabilityVSAvoidrib resistance to tearing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the lower limiting rib from the label holder structure, extracting the problematic element that caused tearing during stacking and cleaning operations. The label is secured using only two lateral clamping ribs that engage the narrow sides of the label, eliminating the vulnerable lower rib entirely.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the container is cleaned with warm or hot cleaning fluid, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but any bends or weak points in the plastic become particularly vulnerable and may break

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidplastic vulnerability at weak points

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention strengthens the label holder structure by eliminating design weak points (the lower limiting rib) before they can fail during hot cleaning operations. By redesigning the label holder to use only two lateral clamping ribs, the structure becomes more resilient to thermal stress and mechanical stress during cleaning and stacking operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Productivity

If multiple transport containers are stacked during transport, then transport efficiency is improved, but the lower limiting rib of the label holder is subjected to increased stress and may tear off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidlabel holder integrity during stacking

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the lower limiting rib that was vulnerable to tearing during stacking operations. The label holder now relies solely on two lateral clamping ribs that engage the narrow sides of the label, eliminating the structural weak point that failed under stacking stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3581511B1Stackable transport and/or storage container made from plastic

Publication Date: 2020.11.25 ALDI SUD DIENSTLEISTUNGS GMBH & CO OHG

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a stackable transport and/or storage container made of plastic, which is equipped with side walls (2, 3) hinged to a base (1). The side walls (2, 3) can be moved into a transport position parallel to the base and into an upright storage position. At least one side wall (2, 3) is equipped on its outer surface with at least one label holder (4). According to the invention, the label holder (4) has only two lateral clamping tabs (4) which detachably fix a label (5) held therein exclusively at its narrow sides.