Produce Box Vent Pattern for Cooling and Stacking Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current produce box designs lack optimization in ventilation systems and stacking strength, with traditional vent placement strategies compromising cooling efficiency and structural integrity, and there is a need for a design that balances ventilation with minimal impact on stacking strength.
Innovation Solution
The produce box features a unique vent pattern with overlapping face and score vents on the base and lid, strategically placing vents near the corners and centrally on the sides to enhance airflow while maintaining structural integrity, allowing for efficient cooling with minimal loss in stacking strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional vent placement strategies are used (vents away from corners, equally spaced on sides), then stacking strength is maintained, but cooling efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing vents at specific locations with different characteristics: corner vents (within 50mm of corners) provide excellent cooling efficiency, while side vents (centrally located on long sides) maintain structural strength. Each location is optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and stacking strength.
2Productivity
If more vents are added to increase ventilation area, then cooling rate improves, but stacking strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of vent placement by specifying exact distance constraints (within 50mm of corners, centrally located on long sides) and vent dimensions (50-150mm from top/bottom edges). These parameter optimizations allow maximum ventilation area while maintaining stacking strength through strategic positioning rather than simply adding more vents.
3Productivity
If vents are placed near corners to maximize cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but stacking strength is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vent placement into distinct functional zones: corner vents for maximum cooling efficiency and side vents for structural support. By dividing the box surface into different vent placement regions with specific constraints, the design achieves both cooling performance and stacking strength without compromise.
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 design achieves faster cooling rates with reduced stacking strength loss, optimizing ventilation for both static and forced-air cooling applications, and allows for increased palletization efficiency without requiring stronger paper grades.
Implementation Method 1
Forced air pre-cooling reduces produce temperature by passing air over or through packaging of freestanding containers or palletised containers
Implementation Method 2
Static cooling is carried out by placing palletised products in cartons directly in cool rooms and relying on natural air currents in the cool room, as well as conduction through the cartons, to reduce the produce temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A produce box for storing produce, including a base, including a series of side wall sections coupled together to form a parallelogram; a bottom end section coupled to the wall sections; pairs of face vents located in spaced apart lateral sections of respective ones of said side wall sections; and pairs of major score vents located centrally on respective top and bottom scores of each side wall section of a first opposed pair of said side wall sections. The produce box also includes a lid, including a series of side wall sections coupled together to form a parallelogram; a top end section coupled to the wall sections; pairs of face vents located in spaced apart lateral sections of respective ones of said side wall sections; and pairs of major score vents located centrally on respective top and bottom scores of each side wall section of a first opposed pair of said side wall sections. The pairs of face vents of the base at least partially overlap with corresponding pairs of face vents of the lid so that air can flow therethrough. Further, pairs of major score vents of the base at least partially overlap with major score vents of the lid so that air can flow therethrough.