Nestable Can Tray Rib Structure for Ring Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic nestable can trays often damage the upper and lower rings of beverage cans due to concentrated contact, which leads to structural vulnerability during shipping and merchandising.
Innovation Solution
A nestable can tray design featuring a base with intersecting vertical rib portions, horizontal wall portions, and annular recesses that distribute the weight of the cans, preventing damage by increasing contact area and reducing stress concentration on the rings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional plastic can trays are used for shipping and merchandising, then the trays provide basic support for beverage cans, but the upper and lower rings of the cans are susceptible to damage due to concentrated contact
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple vertical rib portions that extend upward to support the can. These ribs divide the contact area into multiple discrete support points, distributing the can's weight across several ribs rather than concentrating it at a single contact point, thereby protecting the upper and lower rings from concentrated contact damage
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical rib portions are positioned at specific locations within the base to create optimized support points. The ribs are strategically placed to contact the can body at locations that maximize protection of the upper and lower rings while maintaining structural integrity. The horizontal wall portions are also positioned at specific heights to provide additional localized support where needed
2Reliability
If the tray includes multiple vertical rib portions and horizontal wall portions to distribute weight, then can ring damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical rib portions and horizontal wall portions are merged into a single integrated base structure. The ribs extend upward from the base and connect to the horizontal wall portions, creating a unified structural element that provides both vertical support and horizontal stabilization. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the weight distribution functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical rib portions serve multiple functions: they provide vertical support for the can, distribute weight across multiple contact points, and work in conjunction with the horizontal wall portions to stabilize the can in multiple orientations. The horizontal wall portions similarly provide both structural reinforcement and additional weight distribution, reducing the overall device complexity while maintaining protection
3Productivity
If the tray is designed for nesting with identical trays, then shipping efficiency is improved, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tray is designed with outer dimensions that allow one tray to be nested within another identical tray. The vertical rib portions and horizontal wall portions are configured so that when trays are stacked, the ribs of the upper tray fit within the recesses formed by the ribs of the lower tray, and the horizontal wall portions align to create a compact nested configuration. This nesting capability improves shipping efficiency by reducing the total volume required to transport multiple trays
Data Source
AI summary
A nestable can tray includes a base including a plurality of intersecting vertical rib portions. A plurality of horizontal wall portions are connected proximate lower ends of the vertical rib portions. A plurality of annular recesses are formed on an upper surface of the base for receiving lower ends of beverage cans. The tray further includes side walls including side columns extending upward from lower side wall portions at sides of the base. End walls include end columns at ends of the base. The side columns are configured to be partially receivable into side columns of an identical tray nested thereon and the end columns are configured to be partially receivable into end columns of the identical tray nested thereon.