Product Bundle Net With Inner Loop For Cohesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for packaging elongated beverage containers, such as bottles and cans, face challenges in ensuring mechanical strength and cohesion without using excessive materials, and are not universally applicable across different product types and configurations.

Innovation Solution

A packaging system utilizing a net with a peripheral rope and an inner rope to securely hold and connect elongated products, allowing for ergonomic handling and reduced material consumption, which includes a peripheral loop above the center of gravity and an inner loop encircling the peripheral loop to maintain product cohesion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If peripheral strapping is affixed around the group of products, then the products are retained together, but the strap is placed in a concave peripheral part of the bottle which translates into constraints on the design of the product

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct retentionVSAvoidproduct design compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the strapping action from the peripheral concave part to the upper planar part of the bottles (above the shoulder). By changing the spatial dimension where the strap applies force, it avoids the geometric constraints of the bottle's peripheral shape while maintaining effective product retention through the upper surface of the containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of substance

If products are interconnected by means of strapping forms, then little raw material is required and little dust accumulates, but it is essential to guarantee the good cohesion of the group

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveraw material consumptionVSAvoidgroup cohesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The strapping system is divided into multiple independent straps positioned at different locations (first strap above the shoulder, second strap at the upper part). This segmentation allows each strap to contribute to the overall cohesion with minimal material, while the distributed arrangement ensures balanced force distribution and stable group cohesion without requiring excessive material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If gripping by the flanges is used to connect products, then the products are retained together, but the products are tightened at their upper part until they form a group which flares out downwards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct connectionVSAvoidgroup geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of gripping the flanges at the upper part which causes tightening and flaring, the patent applies straps above the shoulder and at the upper part in a manner that distributes tension evenly. This inverted approach to the connection point prevents localized tightening and maintains a uniform cylindrical group geometry without flaring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3331772B1Bundle of products
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 SIDEL PACKING SOLUTIONS
  • EP3331772B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3331772B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3331772B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a bundle (6) of products (5) having a longitudinal axis (X), including a net (7) for holding products (5) which comprises: circumferential string(s) (8) for surrounding said assembly, comprising at least one circumferential loop (1; 2), said circumferential loop (1; 2) preferably being above the centre of gravity of the bundle (6); and inner string(s) (9) extending at the centre of said bundle (6) and comprising at least one inner loop (3) surrounding said at least one circumferential loop (1; 2). The invention also relates to a corresponding manufacturing method.