Securing Non-Plastic Container Holders with Press and Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing equipment and methods are not suited for securing non-plastic container holders, such as those made of cardboard or paper, to containers, despite the environmental benefits of using sustainable materials.

Innovation Solution

The development of apparatuses and systems that include a frame, feeder, magazine for holding container holders, a support surface, transporter with retainers, a press, and an egress support, along with a human machine interface control unit, to efficiently secure and apply container holders to containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional plastic container holders are used, then existing equipment and methods work effectively, but environmental sustainability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of existing equipmentVSAvoidenvironmental sustainability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to non-plastic sustainable materials (cardboard, paper, biodegradable plastics), while adapting the securing mechanism parameters (downward force application, retention器 design) to effectively handle these new materials, thus maintaining equipment effectiveness while improving environmental sustainability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures in container holders (combining cardboard, paper, and biodegradable plastics) and uses composite securing mechanisms (combination of downward pressure from press and retention from retainers), enabling effective securing of sustainable materials that differ from traditional plastic holders

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If non-plastic container holders are used, then environmental sustainability improves, but securing effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental sustainabilityVSAvoidsecuring effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning container holders in a magazine and using a support surface to prepare them for securing, while the downward force mechanism is pre-configured to apply appropriate pressure, ensuring effective securing of non-plastic materials before they are applied to containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary elements including a support surface between the feeder and magazine, retentioners that act as mediators between the container holder and container, and a downward force application mechanism that serves as an intermediary securing method, all of which enable effective attachment of non-plastic materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If existing equipment is used for non-plastic holders, then device complexity remains low, but manufacturing precision and securing capability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidsecuring capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the securing system into distinct functional components: a downward force application mechanism (press), retention mechanisms (retentioners), a support surface, and a magazine system, allowing each component to be optimized for precise securing of non-plastic materials while maintaining overall equipment simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250026515A1Securing container holders to containers

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 PROMAC INC

AI summary

Apparatuses for securing container holders to containers, container holder application systems, and methods of securing container holders to containers are described. An apparatus for securing container holders to containers includes a feeder, a magazine for holding a plurality of container holders, a container holder support surface disposed between the feeder and the magazine and adapted to receive and support a single container holder of the plurality of container holders, a container holder transporter, the container holder transporter including first and second container holder retainers, a container holder press, and an egress support. A container holder application system includes the apparatus and a plurality of container holders.