Plastic Container Base With Segmented Up-stand Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic containers face challenges in accommodating pressure variations during elevated temperature processing and cooling, leading to potential structural issues such as movement or deformation, which can result in product contamination or packaging failure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a base configuration with a stacked up-stand geometry wall and a flexible inner wall that cooperatively respond to pressure changes within the container, allowing the inner wall to flex while the up-stand wall remains stationary, thereby maintaining container integrity during hot-filling, pasteurization, and cooling processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid base structure is used to maintain container stability, then structural strength is improved, but the container cannot accommodate pressure variations during hot-filling and cooling processes
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into two functional segments: an upstand wall portion that remains rigid to provide structural strength, and an inner bottom portion that is flexible to accommodate pressure variations. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the base are given different mechanical properties: the upstand wall area is designed with high rigidity to maintain container stability, while the central bottom area is designed with flexibility to expand and contract with pressure changes during processing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the base is made completely flexible to accommodate pressure changes, then pressure variation tolerance is improved, but container stability and structural integrity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base structure is segmented into a flexible inner bottom portion for pressure accommodation and a rigid upstand wall portion for maintaining container stability, allowing both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The base exhibits local quality variations with a flexible central region for pressure tolerance and a rigid peripheral upstand wall region for structural stability, enabling the base to provide both flexibility and stability as needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the upstand wall moves with pressure variations, then pressure accommodation is improved, but the container base experiences non-recoverable movement and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into a mobile inner bottom portion that responds to pressure variations and a fixed upstand wall portion that maintains stable position, preventing non-recoverable movement while allowing necessary pressure accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure implements local quality differentiation where the inner bottom has flexible, pressure-responsive properties while the upstand wall has rigid, position-stable properties, ensuring reliable base positioning during processing.
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 effectively compensates for internal pressure variations, preventing non-recoverable movement of the container base and ensuring structural stability during temperature-induced forces, thus maintaining product quality and packaging integrity.
Implementation Method 1
said inner wall being operative to flex in response to the pressure variation within the container after the container has been hot-filled and sealed with the closure
Data Source
AI summary
Plastic containers, base configurations for plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. In particular, the disclosed subject matter involves container base configurations having particular up-stand geometries that can assist or facilitate elevated temperature processing and/or cooling processing of plastic containers.