PET Container Base With Oriented Standing Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plastic containers, particularly those made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), face issues with deformation and damage during filling and packaging due to external forces and frictional contact, especially when lightweight and designed to reduce material usage, which compromises their structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an oriented standing surface with raised strips that interact with conveyors to maintain a predetermined position, reducing frictional forces and minimizing contact damage between containers, while also omitting vacuum panels and pinch grips for increased rigidity and smooth labeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If container weight is reduced to save material costs, then material cost decreases, but container rigidity and structural integrity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoidcontainer rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The base contact surface is segmented into multiple raised strips instead of a continuous surface. This segmentation reduces the total contact area with the conveyor while maintaining structural integrity through the distributed strip configuration, allowing lightweight containers to withstand processing forces without deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The raised strips create localized high-contact-area regions on the base that concentrate frictional forces. This local quality change allows the container to engage effectively with the conveyor at specific points while maintaining overall lightweight construction, resolving the contradiction between reduced material usage and sufficient structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of substance

If container weight is reduced, then material cost decreases, but contact force from incoming containers increases causing deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial costVSAvoidcontact force deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The oriented raised strips are pre-configured on the container base before processing. This preliminary action creates a predetermined friction pattern that actively directs contact forces along safe paths during conveyor operations, preventing deformation before it can occur during filling and packaging processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The frictional contact force that previously caused deformation of lightweight containers is converted into a beneficial orienting mechanism. The raised strips harness the friction force to actively position and stabilize containers on the conveyor, transforming the harmful contact force into a useful function that protects the container structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Stability of the object's composition

If frictional engagement between container and conveyor is increased to prevent slipping, then container stability improves, but contact force and potential damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer stabilityVSAvoidcontact force

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The frictional engagement is localized to specific raised strip regions rather than distributed across the entire base surface. This creates high-friction zones that provide stable conveyor engagement while limiting the total contact area, thereby maintaining container stability without generating excessive contact forces that could cause deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The contact surface is divided into multiple discrete raised strips that engage the conveyor independently. This segmentation allows the container to maintain stability through distributed point contacts while reducing overall contact force compared to a continuous surface, as each strip carries a portion of the load and friction independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enhances the structural integrity and reduces deformation and damage of PET containers during processing, allowing for lighter weight designs that maintain stability and aesthetic appeal, reducing the need for lubricants and minimizing material usage.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of raised strips disposed therein in contact with a conveyor that will aid in urging the container into a predetermined position in response to frictional forces acting on the container at the conveyor and raised strip interface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS8240493B2Container having oriented standing surface

Publication Date: 2012.08.14 AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA LLC

AI summary

A plastic container having a shoulder region adapted for vacuum pressure absorption, a sidewall portion having a rigid support ledge and a tapered base structure having a geometrical shaped footprint. The base having an oriented standing surface to urge the container into a predetermined orientation during processing. The shoulder region including vacuum panels being movable to accommodate vacuum related forces generated within the container.