Recyclable Composite Container With Removable Liner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Composite containers with paperboard and metal or plastic components are difficult to disassemble for recycling due to adhesively secured plastic bags and attached metal or plastic end pieces, making complete disassembly and separate recycling impractical.
Innovation Solution
A composite container design featuring a paperboard hollow body with a liner and collar/base system, where the collar and base have regions of weakened strength, allowing easy removal and separation of components for recycling, with the liner conforming to the container's perimeter to prevent air pockets and bunching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastic bags are adhesively secured to protect the interior surface of composite containers, then protection against air pockets and bunching is improved, but ease of disassembly for recycling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic bag is divided into two functional zones: a permanently attached portion that conforms to the container perimeter to prevent air pockets and bunching, and a removable portion that can be easily separated for recycling. This segmentation allows each zone to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the plastic bag are given different attachment properties. The region near the container opening is permanently secured to prevent defects, while the region extending into the container is made removable. This local differentiation of attachment strength resolves the contradiction between protection and recyclability.
2Strength
If metal or plastic end pieces are permanently attached to the paperboard body, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of disassembly for recycling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between end pieces and paperboard body is segmented into permanent attachments (for structural integrity) and temporary/removable attachments (for recycling). The plastic bag serves as a removable connector that maintains structural strength during use but can be easily separated at the container opening for recycling purposes.
3Reliability
If plastic coated containers are used to protect paperboard, then barrier protection is improved, but recyclability deteriorates due to expensive hydra-pulping process
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic barrier protection is extracted from being permanently integrated with the paperboard and made into a removable component. The plastic bag can be completely removed from the paperboard container at the opening, allowing the paperboard to be recycled through standard processes without expensive hydra-pulping required for plastic-coated containers.
Data Source
AI summary
A composite container having a paperboard hollow body with top and bottom open ends. The body is formed by a sidewall with inner and outer surfaces. The composite container includes a body liner extending peripherally about the inner surface of the body and a base connectable to the bottom open end of the hollow body. The base includes a sidewall sized and shaped to fit snugly within the bottom open end of the body. The sidewall is permanently coupled to a bottom portion of the liner. The composite container also includes a collar connectable to the top open end of the hollow body. The collar has a peripheral portion that abuts the top open end and an inner circumferential flange sized and shaped to fit snugly within the top open end of the body. The inner circumferential flange is permanently coupled to a top portion of the liner. The peripheral portion has regions of weakened strength so that the section of the peripheral portion that abuts the top open end can be removed, thereby allowing a user to rapidly remove the coupled collar, liner and base from the hollow body.