Pulp Molded Tableware Handle Design to Reduce Deformation and Cracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pulp molded tableware is prone to deformation and cracking, limiting its usage and popularity due to low hardness and resilience, especially when handles are subjected to force, and reinforcing ribs can lead to increased defective rates during molding.
Innovation Solution
The design includes first and second edge flaps with rounded corners, inclined side walls, and wavy reinforcing ribs with concave and convex portions to distribute force evenly, increase strength, and prevent deformation and cracking, while maintaining a simple molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If pulp molded tableware is made from paper and plant residues, then production cost is reduced and environmental friendliness is improved, but the tableware has low hardness and is prone to deformation during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pulp as the base material and adds starch as a reinforcing agent to create a composite material. The starch forms a network structure within the pulp matrix, significantly enhancing the hardness and strength of the tableware while maintaining its biodegradability and low cost characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the pulp material by controlling the moisture content, adding starch during the molding process, and optimizing hot pressing conditions. These parameter changes transform the weak pulp into a strong, deformation-resistant tableware structure.
2Strength
If reinforcing ribs are added to increase strength, then bending resistance is improved, but the tableware is prone to cracking during molding due to abrupt slope changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sharp-edged reinforcing ribs with rounded reinforcing structures. The rounded corners and smooth transitions eliminate stress concentration points that cause cracking during molding, while still providing the necessary bending resistance. The curvature radius is specifically designed to balance strength and moldability.
3Device complexity
If the handle is designed with thin walls for simplicity, then manufacturing is easier, but the handle deforms when held for extended periods due to poor resilience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the handle by incorporating starch and optimizing the hot pressing conditions. This increases the resilience and elastic modulus of the handle material, allowing thin-walled handles to maintain their shape during use without deforming when held for extended periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent rounds the corners of the handle cross-section instead of using sharp edges. This curvature distribution improves the stress distribution within the handle, enhancing its resistance to deformation under gripping forces while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
The solution enhances the bending resistance and durability of the tableware, reducing deformation and cracking issues, improving usability and yield, and facilitating easier production and handling.
Implementation Method 1
The water is sucked away through a vacuum system to form a wet blank
Implementation Method 2
the wet blank is then dried through high-temperature hot pressing to form a dry product
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of tableware, in particular, provides an environment-friendly tableware comprising a handle and a main body, wherein the main body is positioned at one end of the handle; on a cross section transverse to an extending direction of the handle, the handle has a bottom wall and side walls located at both ends of the bottom wall, a first edge flap is arranged at a free end of each side wall, a thickness of the first edge flap is equal to a thickness of each side wall, and corners of the first edge flap are rounded.