Reusable Plastic Cup Sealing Edge Thickness Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup-shaped reusable plastic containers face challenges in achieving sustainable reuse while maintaining stability, durability, and ease of handling, as well as ensuring quality and sealability during repeated processing and resealing.
Innovation Solution
A cup-shaped reusable plastic container with a container jacket having a specific wall thickness and sealing edge thickness, configured to be connectable with sealing foils, and featuring a conical section, cylindrical section, and recesses for improved handling and ventilation, along with a method for reprocessing that includes cleaning, restoring connectability, and resealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wall thickness of the container jacket is increased to improve stability and durability for repeated recycling, then the container becomes heavier and more difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the wall thickness to a specific range (0.5 mm to 4.0 mm) and sealing edge thickness (0.8 mm to 4.0 mm) to achieve the desired balance between durability and weight. These parameter specifications enable the container to withstand repeated recycling processes while maintaining manageable weight for handling and transport.
2Reliability
If the sealing edge thickness is increased to improve sealability and quality during repeated processing, then the container becomes more difficult to manufacture and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies optimal parameter ranges for sealing edge thickness (0.8 mm to 4.0 mm) that balance sealability quality with manufacturing feasibility. These parameter changes ensure the sealing edge can be repeatedly processed and resealed without significant quality loss while remaining manufacturable.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the container is designed for sustainable reuse with adequate wall thickness, then the packaging material weight increases which is disadvantageous for goods transport sustainability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes wall thickness parameters (0.5 mm to 4.0 mm) to achieve sufficient durability for sustainable reuse while minimizing packaging material weight. This parameter optimization reduces transport energy consumption by keeping the container as lightweight as possible while maintaining the required reuse duration and structural integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for reprocessing a cup-shaped reusable plastic container includes providing a cup-shaped reusable plastic container with a container jacket having an open end and a closed end with a base, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cup-shaped reusable plastic container extends between the open end and the closed end. The open end has a sealing edge with a sealing surface connected to a first sealing foil. The first sealing foil is removed from the sealing surface and a first cleaning of the cup-shaped reusable plastic container is performed to remove content residues. The sealing surface is processed to restore a connectability of the sealing surface of the sealing edge with a sealing foil and the reusable cup-shaped plastic container is refilled with a product. The sealing surface is reconnected to a further sealing foil.