Paperboard Container Top Sealing Region Folded onto Wall Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing paperboard-based containers for pourable food products often restrict access to the top panel due to sealing structures, making it difficult for consumers to drink directly from the container.
Innovation Solution
The container design features a top sealing region that is folded onto the wall sections with a longitudinal sealing band, leaving the top panel free from sealing structures, allowing for unrestricted access and positioning of an opening device or closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a top-fin is folded onto the top panel to provide an extended top panel area for the opening device, then the opening device area is increased, but the top panel access is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The top sealing region is folded onto the wall section instead of the top panel, changing the spatial dimension where the sealing structure is positioned. This moves the sealing structure from the horizontal top panel plane to the vertical wall section plane, thereby clearing the top panel for unrestricted consumer access while still providing adequate space for the opening device on the extended top sealing region.
2Reliability
If sealing structures are positioned on the top panel, then the container can be sealed and opened, but consumer access to the top panel is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The container structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the top panel is dedicated to consumer access and opening device placement, while the wall section is dedicated to the sealing function. This spatial segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, enabling both reliable sealing and easy consumer access.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure is relocated from the top panel (horizontal plane) to the wall section (vertical plane), changing the dimensional location of the sealing function. This allows the top panel to be fully accessible to consumers while the sealing operation occurs on the vertical wall section, eliminating the conflict between sealing and access.
3Ease of operation
If the top sealing region is folded onto the wall section, then the top panel is free for unrestricted access, but the sealing structure configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The top sealing region is pre-configured and positioned on the wall section during the container forming process, before the container is filled and used. This preliminary positioning of the sealing structure on the vertical wall section eliminates the need for complex adjustments during consumer use, and the folding configuration is already optimized for both sealing function and consumer access.
Data Source
AI summary
A paper-based or paperboard-based container (100) for holding a pourable food product is described, the container comprising: a substantially planar bottom portion; a top portion arranged opposite the bottom portion and comprising a top panel and a top sealing region (126) forming a top seal of the container; and a wall portion extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and comprising a plurality of wall sections (108b, 108c) bordering the top panel and a longitudinal sealing band (14) extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and over at least one of the wall sections, wherein the top sealing region is folded onto said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band (14) and being attached thereto. A blank and a sleeve for producing the container is also described, as is a method for producing the container.