Separable Tray Flange Structure for Flexible Food Portioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers lack flexibility in accommodating various shapes and sizes of articles, particularly for portioned food products, and do not provide efficient separation and portioning capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A tray system comprising separable tray portions with foldable end flaps forming flanges, allowing for individual compartments that can be separated and closed with a lid, constructed from materials like paperboard or cardboard, facilitating portioning and maintaining product freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional container designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but flexibility for accommodating various shapes and sizes of articles is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple separable compartments or sections that can be configured in different arrangements. Each compartment can be independently adjusted or removed, allowing the container to adapt to various shapes and sizes of articles while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates movable and adjustable elements such as flexible partitions, reconfigurable walls, or adjustable lids that can be positioned in multiple configurations. This dynamic structure allows the same container to accommodate different article types without requiring completely different container designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-separable container designs are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but portioning and serving flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with separable compartments that can be divided into individual portions. Each compartment maintains its own structural integrity through reinforced edges and interlocking features, while the overall container can be separated into multiple serving portions for convenient distribution and storage.
Solution Approach 2:
Smaller compartments or portions are designed to nest within larger container structures when not in use. This allows the separable portions to be stored compactly within the main container body, maintaining structural organization and integrity while enabling flexible portioning when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If reusable components are implemented, then sustainability is improved, but cleaning and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable components such as lids, compartments, and seals are designed as removable and extractable elements from the main container body. This allows each component to be easily separated for individual cleaning and maintenance, reducing the complexity of cleaning the entire assembly while promoting reusability and sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The container incorporates flexible, thin-walled materials that are easy to clean and maintain. These flexible components can be quickly rinsed, folded for drying, and reassembled, reducing maintenance complexity while enabling repeated use. The thin-film design also allows for efficient washing and sterilization processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A tray for holding one or more articles includes a plurality of tray portions, each tray portion having a plurality of panels extending at least partially around a respective tray compartment, and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the respective plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps of each respective tray portion including a respective plurality of top end flaps arranged to form a respective flange separably connected to a respective flange of a respective adjacent tray portion of the plurality of tray portions.