Paper Cup Indentation Structure for Anti-Telescoping Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-cup beverage dispensing systems using paper cups face issues with unpredictable separation forces and telescoping due to the inability to replicate the precision and resilience of plastic cups, leading to inconsistent sealing and beverage loss.
Innovation Solution
The design features a paper cup with a tapered tubular body, including first and second indentations above the base to resist axial movement and an anti-telescoping feature below the second indentation, which creates a stable nesting configuration that maintains a non-recessed base for maximum beverage volume and prevents interference, allowing for consistent separation forces and reduced telescoping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If paper cups are used instead of plastic cups, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing precision and separation force consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cup structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: an interference fit zone near the base for sealing, and an anti-telescoping zone with circumferential indentations higher up the side wall for structural stability. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function independently, achieving both environmental goals and mechanical performance with paper material.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cup are given different geometric properties: the lower portion has an interference fit geometry for sealing, while the upper portion has circumferential indentations for preventing telescoping. This local differentiation of structural qualities enables the paper cup to achieve multiple functions that would otherwise require complex uniform design.
2Reliability
If deeply recessed bases are used to prevent ingredient escape, then sealing is improved, but beverage volume is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is moved from the base region to the side wall region through the interference fit zone. By changing the dimensional location of the sealing mechanism from vertical (base) to lateral (side wall), the cup maintains full base volume for beverage while achieving reliable sealing through the interference fit geometry on the tapered side wall.
3Ease of manufacture
If cups are stacked with ingredient between side walls, then filling is simplified, but separation force becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The ingredient is extracted from the side wall region and confined to the base region. The interference fit zone on the tapered side wall creates a clean separation between the ingredient-containing base and the ingredient-free side wall stacking region, eliminating the unpredictability caused by particles trapped between side walls while maintaining simple filling procedures.
4Device complexity
If conventional paper cup stacking is used, then stacking is simplified, but telescoping occurs under axial compressive force
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential indentations are pre-formed in the side wall at a location above the base, creating a predetermined anti-telescoping feature before stacking occurs. This preliminary structural feature engages between nested cups to prevent telescoping under axial compressive force, providing stack stability without requiring complex stacking procedures or additional components.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A paper cup (1) for an in-cup beverage dispensing system, wherein the cup comprises: a tapered tubular body (2) having an wide top end that is open and a narrow bottom end that is closed in liquid-tight fashion by a base (3) sheet extending transversely across the tubular body, characterized in that the cup further comprises: a first indentation (8) in the side wall at a first location above the base of the cup, and a second indentation (9) in the side wall at a second location above the base of the cup, wherein the indentations are positioned and configured such that the second indentation of a first cup according to the invention engages with the first indentation of a second, identical cup according to the invention to resist relative axial movement of the cups when the second cup is nested inside the first cup.