Segmented Deep-Drawn Cardboard Container for Gas-Tight Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deep-drawn cardboard food packaging containers face challenges in achieving a wrinkle-free, continuous edge flange for gas-tight sealing, especially with larger depths, often requiring additional plastic components that increase waste and manufacturing complexity.

Innovation Solution

Divide the container vertically into a deep-drawn base section and a flange section, ensuring a gas-tight connection in an overlapping area to maintain favorable deep-drawing conditions for producing flat, wrinkle-free edge flanges, thereby allowing secure lid sealing without additional plastic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the container is deep-drawn as a single piece, then the container depth can be increased, but the edge flange becomes wrinkled and unsuitable for sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer depthVSAvoidedge flange flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two separately deep-drawn sections: a base section and an upper section with edge flange. Each section is deep-drawn to a shallower depth, allowing the edge flange to remain flat and wrinkle-free while still achieving the required total container depth when sections are joined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If plastic injection is used to create the edge flange, then sealing conditions are improved and the container is stiffened, but plastic content increases and manufacturing costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelid sealing qualityVSAvoidplastic content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The entire container including the edge flange is made from cardboard material only, eliminating plastic components. The edge flange is formed through deep-drawing of the cardboard blank itself, maintaining material homogeneity while achieving the required sealing function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Ease of manufacture

If the container is deep-drawn with high plastic content, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the container becomes hazardous waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidhazardous waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container is manufactured as a homogeneous cardboard structure without plastic components. The deep-drawing process is adapted to draw the container in sections and join them, maintaining ease of manufacture while eliminating hazardous plastic waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

4Quantity of substance

If the edge flange is made from deeply drawn cardboard, then plastic content is reduced, but the flange surface becomes wrinkled and sealing becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplastic contentVSAvoidflange surface continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The container is segmented into base and upper sections, with the edge flange forming part of the upper section that is separately deep-drawn to a lesser depth. This segmentation allows the flange to maintain surface continuity without wrinkles while still being made entirely of cardboard.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3936448B1Food package made of a deep-drawn, gastight container made of cardboard
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 MAISTAPACK GMBH
  • EP3936448B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3936448B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A food packaging consisting of a deep-drawn, gas-tight sealed cardboard container with a circumferential rim flange (6) projecting from the container shell and a lid (10) sealed to the rim flange (6) is described. To create advantageous manufacturing conditions, it is proposed that the container be divided vertically into a lower bottom section (1) deep-drawn with the base (3) and an upper flange section (2) deep-drawn with the rim flange (6), and that the bottom section (1) and the flange section (2) are gas-tightly connected to each other in an overlap area of ​​the shell parts (4, 5) of the bottom and flange sections (1, 2) spaced apart from the rim flange (6).