Square Blow-Molded Container with In-Mold Label Air Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In blow-molded containers with in-mold labels, air collection occurs easily between corner surfaces and labels due to limited display area and label placement, restricting information size and causing adhesion issues.

Innovation Solution

The container body features a square shape with alternating planar and corner surfaces, and in-mold labels with recesses on their back surfaces are glued from corner surfaces to planar surfaces, ensuring the labels conform to the shape and prevent air collection by reducing volume and allowing air escape during molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If in-mold labels are glued only on planar portions of the body portion, then air collection is reduced, but the display area of the in-mold labels is narrow and information display is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair collectionVSAvoiddisplay area of in-mold labels
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different surface regions. The in-mold label is designed with a first region that extends onto the corner surfaces and a second region that extends onto the planar portions. This allows the label to utilize the entire outer peripheral surface for display area while the specific geometry of corner surfaces and planar portions helps manage air collection in different zones during the molding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If in-mold labels are integrally glued from corner surfaces to planar portions, then display area is increased, but air collection occurs easily between corner surfaces and labels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay area of in-mold labelsVSAvoidair collection
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the curvature of corner surfaces as a transition zone between planar portions. The corner surfaces have a specific curvature radius that allows the in-mold label to conform smoothly while enabling air to escape during blow-molding. This curved geometry prevents sharp corners that would trap air, while still allowing the label to extend integrally from corner to planar portion for maximum display area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Loss of information

If in-mold labels are glued only on planar portions, then information display is limited, but the manufacturing process is simpler

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidlabel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The in-mold label is segmented into multiple functional regions: a first region that contacts corner surfaces and a second region that contacts planar portions. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function - the first region utilizes the curved corner surfaces for display while the second region provides stable adhesion on flat surfaces, thereby increasing information display capability without overly complicating the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

This design inhibits air collection between corner surfaces and labels, allowing for effective label adhesion without restricting information display, enhancing the manufacturing process and container appearance.

Implementation Method 1

multiple recesses are formed over the entire back surfaces, which are glued to the outer peripheral surfaces of the glued portions... the in-mold labels not only can be made easily made to conform to the external shape of the above glued portions of the body portion, but also can be inhibited from thermally contracting when heated due to the temperature of the preliminary molded body when the container body is molded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir escape through recesses:

Implementation Method 2

the in-mold labels not only can be made easily made to conform to the external shape of the above glued portions of the body portion, but also can be inhibited from thermally contracting when heated due to the temperature of the preliminary molded body when the container body is molded

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP3138681B1Blow-molded container with in-mold label and method for manufacturing blow-molded container with in-mold label
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO LTD
  • EP3138681B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3138681B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3138681B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention is a blow-molded container (1) with an in-mold label, the container being equipped with: a main container body (15) with a drum section (12) that has a square shape in the cross-sectional view that is orthogonal to the container axis (O); and in-mold labels (16), which have been integrally glued on the outer circumferential surfaces of adherend portions that span respective planar sections (20) extending to both sides around the container axis (O) from the corner surfaces (21, 22) of the drum section. Of the front and back surfaces of the in-mold labels, multiple depressions have been formed over the entire back surface that has been glued to the outer circumferential surface of the adherend portion. When the tensile elasticity of the in-mold label is (E) (MPa) and the in-mold label thickness is (t) (mm), (E) x (t)3 is 0.20 or less. When the radius of curvature of the corner surfaces is (R) (mm) and the angle formed by the planar sections with each other is (θ) (°) in a cross-sectional view of the adherend portion, (R) x (θ)2 is 45000 or more.