Blank and packaging produced therefrom

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing packaging solutions, such as those using elastic elements for automatic product advancement, face challenges in manufacturing and handling, particularly during filling, due to potential deformation and detachment issues during transport and storage, and require improved methods for easy product removal and filling assistance.

Innovation Solution

A blank for packaging made from foldable material with a relaxed elastic element attached to connecting flaps, which can be tensioned after the packaging is erected, featuring a retaining tab and locking mechanism to secure the elastic element in place, allowing for easy filling and product removal, and a system with separate stations for erecting and tensioning the packaging to minimize damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the elastic element is attached to the blank in a tensioned state before transport and storage, then the packaging can provide automatic product advancement, but the blank undergoes unwanted deformation and may suffer damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic product advancementVSAvoidblank deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic element is attached to the blank in its relaxed state during manufacturing, allowing the blank to be transported and stored without deformation. The tensioning action is performed later, just before use, when the blank has been erected into its final packaging form. This preliminary attachment without tension resolves the contradiction by separating the attachment phase from the tensioning phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the elastic element is attached to the erected packaging, then product advancement is achieved, but the manufacturing and handling process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct advancementVSAvoidmanufacturing and handling process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The process is segmented into distinct phases: (1) attaching the relaxed elastic element to the flat blank during manufacturing, (2) transporting and storing the blank with the element already attached but untensioned, (3) erecting the blank into packaging form, and (4) tensioning the elastic element only when needed. This segmentation allows the elastic element to be prepared in advance without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If the elastic element is tensioned early to provide product feed, then automatic advancement is enabled, but the risk of detaching during handling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic product feedVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic element is attached in its relaxed state during blank manufacturing, well before tensioning is required. This preliminary attachment in a low-stress state ensures secure bonding. The element is only tensioned later when the packaging is erected and ready for use, minimizing the duration of tensioned state during handling and reducing detachment risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If the blank is transported in an erected state with elastic element attached, then product advancement function is ready, but transport and storage space is increased and deformation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveready-to-use packagingVSAvoidtransport space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blank is designed to be dynamic in its configuration - it can be transported in a flat, space-efficient state with the elastic element already attached but relaxed, and then transformed into an erected, functional packaging form just before use. This dynamic approach allows the same object to optimize for different requirements at different stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 enables the packaging to be transported and stored in a flat state without deformation, allows for variable elastic element application, and ensures stable packaging during tensioning, facilitating easy filling and product removal while minimizing damage risks.

Implementation Method 1

a strip made of an elastic material in such a way that it serves as a product feed for the products contained in the packaging

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3068699B1Blank and packaging produced therefrom

Publication Date: 2017.11.01 DS SMITH PACKAGING DEUT STIFTUNG & CO KG

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Figure 9~11

AI summary

The invention relates to a blank (1) made from a foldable material such as corrugated cardboard, paperboard or cardboard, for producing a machine-produced packaging, in particular a tray. The blank comprises a base (3) and two side walls (4) which can be linked to the base, a rear wall (6) and a front wall (5) in addition to two connecting tabs (7, 8) which are linked to the front wall (5) and two connecting links (7, 8) which are linked to the rear wall (6). According to the invention, a relaxed elastic element (15) is secured to the connecting tabs (7) linked to the front wall (5). The invention also relates to packaging produced from the blank (1).