Retortable Plastic Container Groove Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional retortable plastic containers face challenges in maintaining dimensional stability and strength during the heat sterilization process without increasing material costs, especially in continuous retort systems where limited flexure is required to prevent interference with conveyor systems.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a curved outer surface with strategically placed grooves and a mounting flange to provide two dimensionally stable points of contact, enhancing stability while maintaining lightweight construction and cost-effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the sidewall thickness is increased to provide strength and stability during retort, then dimensional stability is improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer strengthVSAvoidmaterial cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sidewall is segmented into multiple regions with different thicknesses: a first sidewall region with initial thickness and a second sidewall region with greater thickness. This segmentation allows the container to have enhanced strength where needed (at the groove location) while maintaining lightweight construction in other areas, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and material cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sidewall exhibits local quality variations through the groove structure that creates a first region and a second region with different thicknesses. The groove location receives additional material thickness locally to provide strength and stability during retort, while the rest of the container maintains minimal wall thickness to control material costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the container is designed to flex to accommodate internal volumetric changes during retort, then dimensional stability is improved, but stability during conveyor process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidconveyor compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom portion is segmented into a first bottom region and a second bottom region with different thicknesses. The first bottom region provides flexibility to accommodate internal volumetric changes during retort sterilization, while the second bottom region provides dimensional stability for conveyor system interaction, thus resolving the contradiction between flexibility and conveyor compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom portion exhibits local quality variations where the first bottom region has initial thickness for flexibility and the second bottom region has greater thickness for stability. This local differentiation allows the container to flex appropriately during retort while maintaining stable contact points for the conveyor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the container allows flexure to accommodate internal volumetric changes, then adaptability to retort process is improved, but dimensional stability during continuous retort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretort process adaptabilityVSAvoiddimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into regions with different thickness characteristics: the first bottom region allows flexure for retort adaptability, while the second bottom region and the groove-reinforced sidewall regions provide dimensional stability during continuous retort processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container exhibits local quality differentiation where the first bottom region provides adaptability to retort process volumetric changes, while the second bottom region and groove locations provide dimensional stability to prevent interference with the continuous retort conveyor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 enhanced design provides superior dimensional stability and strength during the retort process, ensuring safe conveyance through continuous retort systems without significant material cost increases, thus improving the performance of retortable plastic containers.

Implementation Method 1

The temperatures of the retort process are elevated enough to temporarily increase the internal pressurization of the container

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

the sidewall must be formed of a sufficient thickness to provide the requisite strength and stability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical strength:

Data Source

PatentUS8783505B2Retortable plastic containers

Publication Date: 2014.07.22 GRAHAM PACKAGING CO LP

AI summary

A plastic container includes a sidewall defining a bottom portion, a main body portion and an upper rim. The main body portion of the sidewall has at least one groove defined therein that has a circumferential component. Reinforcement structure is provided on the portion of the sidewall that defines the groove for limiting vertical expansion and contraction of the main body portion in response to force that is applied to the sidewall.