Underlay Frame for Produce Containers With Uniform Shelf Stacking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing transport and presentation containers for fruits and vegetables are often made of expensive, rigid, or foldable plastic, which are misused as shelf support frames, leading to high capital outlay and inefficient use, resulting in a restless shelf appearance and increased personnel costs due to the need for frequent replacement and rearrangement.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective transport and presentation container system featuring a support device with a stacking edge that allows standard containers to be stacked, made from polypropylene using injection molding or extrusion profiles, with foldable side walls and reinforcement elements for stability and space-saving design, enabling uniform shelf presentation and reduced capital expenditure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If expensive rigid or foldable plastic containers are used as shelf support frames, then a uniform shelf appearance is achieved, but capital outlay increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive reusable plastic containers with inexpensive disposable cardboard containers that serve as both transport and shelf support. The cardboard containers are discarded after single use, eliminating the need for costly plastic containers to be misused as shelf supports, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving uniform appearance and reducing capital expenditure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the cardboard container multi-functional by designing it to serve both as transport container and as shelf support structure. The container includes integrated support elements (flaps, extensions, or attached components) that enable it to function as a shelf support frame without requiring separate plastic containers, thereby eliminating the misuse of expensive plastic containers for dual purposes.
2Shape
If transport containers are misused as shelf support frames, then uniform shelf appearance is achieved, but personnel costs increase due to frequent replacement and rearrangement
Solution Approach 1:
By using disposable cardboard containers as shelf supports, the system eliminates the need for personnel to frequently replace and rearrange reusable plastic containers. The cardboard containers remain in place as shelf supports throughout the display period, reducing manual intervention and personnel costs while maintaining uniform appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cardboard containers are designed with self-supporting features (flaps, extensions, or attached components) that enable them to automatically function as shelf support frames without requiring additional assembly or adjustment by personnel. This self-service capability reduces the need for manual arrangement and replacement, thereby lowering personnel costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reusable plastic containers are used for both transport and shelf support, then functionality is improved, but the proportion of misused containers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the cardboard container to be inherently multi-functional from the outset, with integrated support elements that enable it to serve as both transport container and shelf support. This eliminates the need to misuse dedicated reusable plastic containers for dual purposes, thereby reducing the proportion of misused containers while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
By using disposable cardboard containers that are designed for dual functionality, the system eliminates the need to reuse plastic containers for purposes other than transport. The cardboard containers are discarded after single use, preventing the accumulation of misused containers in the system.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The invention relates to an underlay device (1) for a transportation and presentation container (12) for food, such as fruits and/or vegetables, wherein the transportation and presentation container (12) comprises a bottom part (13) and four side wall parts (14, 14', 14'', 14'''), and the underlay device (1) has four sides walls (3, 3', 3'', 3''') arranged in a frame shape as an underlay frame (2) of the transportation and presentation container (12) and/or at least three side walls (17, 17', 17'') having dimensions as an underlay apparatus (16) so that the bottom part (13) of the transportation container (12) can be placed on the underlay frame (2) or the underlay apparatus (16).