Marking Panel Attachment for Pallet Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing label attachment methods for pallet containers are either time-consuming with screw connections that pose injury risks or require additional plastic safety elements that can be brittle and break easily, and existing snap-lock designs may contact the thin-walled plastic container during transport and lack secure tamper-evidence.

Innovation Solution

A marking panel with slightly bent upper and lower edges and sharply beveled lateral edges that form rolled edges, which engage securely behind horizontal bars without additional fastening means, ensuring a rattle-free and immovable fit, and incorporates U-shaped punched areas with tabs for tamper-evidence, preventing unauthorized removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screw connections are used to attach the labeling panel, then the attachment is secure, but the process is time-consuming and protruding screw heads can cause injuries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidattachment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the screw connection system with a deformation-based attachment system. The labeling panel's edges are bent backward to create elastic deformation that generates friction force against the lattice bars, eliminating the need for screws while maintaining secure attachment and reducing installation time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If additional plastic safety elements are used for tamper-evidence, then security is improved, but the elements can become brittle and break easily under impact loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetamper-evidence securityVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the additional plastic safety elements (clamping pins, push buttons, expanding wedges) from the design. Instead, it uses the labeling panel's own bent edges as both the attachment mechanism and tamper-evident feature, reducing component count and eliminating brittleness issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to sheet metal for the labeling panel. This material substitution provides both the necessary structural strength to resist impact loads and the ability to create permanent deformation for secure attachment and tamper-evidence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the lattice bars are drawn in to form trough-like depressions for snap-lock attachment, then screw connections are eliminated, but the edges can contact the thin-walled plastic inner container during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidcontainer contact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the attachment geometry from a three-dimensional snap-lock mechanism (edges gripping behind bars) to a surface-based friction attachment (bent edges pressing against bar surfaces). This dimensional change eliminates the risk of edges contacting the inner container while maintaining attachment simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 solution provides a secure, injury-free, and tamper-evident label attachment that prevents contact with the plastic container during transport and allows for easy replacement of damaged labels, ensuring reliable identification and data protection across multiple uses.

Implementation Method 1

the upper edge and lower edge are slightly bent backwards (bent) and are in the assembled state over the entire length - without any recess for a covered vertical bar - against the outward-facing surface of an upper and a lower horizontal bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the two lateral edges are beveled backwards (kinked) comparatively sharply and are each rolled up at their rear edge to form a rolled edge, with corresponding recesses being provided in the sheet metal for the upper and lower horizontal bar in the two lateral folded edges, and with the rolled edge around a piece is rod-shaped extended upwards and downwards, protrudes into these recesses and engages behind the upper and lower horizontal rod

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical interlocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP1871684B1Identification panel for pallet container
Publication Date: 2008.12.10 MAUSER WERKE GMBH
  • EP1871684B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP1871684B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP1871684B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention concerns a pallet container (10) for storing and transporting liquid or fluid products, said container comprising the following elements: an inner receptacle (12) with fine plastic wall, said receptacle being provided with an upper filling orifice and a lower evacuating fitting; a grid frame (14) compactly enclosing the plastic receptacle (12), the grid frame consisting of bars (20, 22) welded together; a base pallet (16), whereon the plastic receptacle (12) is placed and the grid frame (14) is fixed. In order to identify the stored product, an easy-to-mount identification panel (18) designed for application of fact sheets is mounted (without any auxiliary devices such as staples) to the grid frame of the pallet container, on its front face, whereon is located the lower evacuation fitting, and on its rear face.