Heat-Resistant PET Container Bottom Deformation Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Heat-resistant containers made by blow molding with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) face deformation issues under reduced pressure, which complicates the mold design, increases material usage, and restricts label design due to the need for vacuum panels or ribs, making them heavy and costly.

Innovation Solution

A method involving two-phase blow molding where a thin-walled raised bottom portion is formed in the first phase and the surrounding wall portion is thickened in the second phase, allowing the raised bottom portion to displace inwardly and accommodate pressure reduction without external panels, maintaining container rigidity and self-supporting properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vacuum panel portions or three-dimensional portions (ribs) are provided in the wall section to suppress deformation under reduced pressure, then deformation resistance is improved, but device complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation resistanceVSAvoidmold complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a raised bottom portion with different wall thickness characteristics compared to the surrounding wall. The raised bottom portion has a first wall section with greater thickness and a second wall section with lesser thickness, allowing localized deformation accommodation without affecting the entire container structure or requiring complex mold modifications throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom portion is segmented into distinct wall sections with different thicknesses. The first wall section has greater thickness while the second wall section has lesser thickness, creating zones with different mechanical properties that work together to accommodate reduced pressure without requiring additional vacuum panels or ribs throughout the container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If vacuum panel portions or ribs are added to prevent deformation, then deformation resistance is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation resistanceVSAvoidcontainer weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly increasing wall thickness throughout the container, the invention locally modifies only the bottom portion with segmented wall thicknesses. The second wall section has lesser thickness to minimize material usage and weight, while the first wall section has greater thickness to provide necessary structural support and deformation resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If vacuum panel portions are provided in the wall section, then deformation resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention achieves deformation resistance through localized wall thickness variations in the bottom portion rather than adding separate vacuum panels or ribs. This integrated approach modifies the existing mold cavity shape rather than requiring additional mold components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Shape

If the wall surface is kept flat to maintain commercial value, then appearance quality is improved, but deformation resistance under reduced pressure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewall surface flatnessVSAvoiddeformation resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding external protrusions (ribs or vacuum panels) to the container wall, the invention inverts the approach by creating a raised bottom portion that deforms inward. The second wall section with lesser thickness is designed to collapse inward under reduced pressure, accommodating volume reduction while maintaining the external flat appearance of the container wall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Reliability

If a raised bottom portion with thinner wall is formed to accommodate pressure reduction, then deformation resistance is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure accommodationVSAvoidwall strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating spatially varying wall thicknesses in the bottom portion. The first wall section has greater thickness to maintain structural strength and support, while the second wall section has lesser thickness to allow controlled deformation and pressure accommodation. This differentiated design ensures both strength and flexibility where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach enables heat-resistant containers to handle deformation under reduced pressure without additional structural elements, reducing material usage, weight, and maintaining a flat surface for improved commercial value and label design flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a resin preform is heated to a temperature suitable for blow molding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

blow molding is performed, with the folded-back portion and the raised bottom portion thinner than the surrounding wall portion being pressed from outside

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBlow molding:

Implementation Method 3

the interior of the bottle has an atmosphere at reduced pressure, as the volume of the contents decreases

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure reduction: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 4

When the interior of the product falls into a reduced-pressure atmosphere, the raised bottom portion is displaced toward the interior to accommodate pressure reduction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure-induced deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP2586588B1Method for production of a heat resistant container
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 NISSEI ASB MASCH CO LTD
  • EP2586588B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2586588B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)
  • EP2586588B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An invention of a method for production of a heat-resistant container, in which a raised bottom portion is displaced inwardly by reduction in internal pressure, is disclosed. The method is characterized by forming a raised bottom portion 11 smaller in wall thickness than a surrounding wall portion 12a by first blow molding using a heat-treating blow mold; and pushing up the raised bottom portion 11 by a secondary bottom mold, in performing second blow molding using a final blow mold, to increase the wall thickness of the surrounding wall portion 12a (ground portion 12) relative to the raised bottom portion.