Tapered End Containers for Non-Rectangular Product Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packaging systems face challenges in sealing and stackability when packaging products with non-rectangular form factors, as gaps between the product base and container base can prevent proper glue sealing, leading to issues like open flaps and reduced stackability.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a container with tapered end panels that extend from a base panel, featuring overlapping flaps connected at fold lines, allowing for complete adhesion and improved stackability, and can be configured as a wrap or harness container with various panel arrangements to accommodate products with unique shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rectangular containers are used for non-rectangular products, then the container structure is simple, but gaps form between the product base and container base preventing proper glue sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The end panels are designed with different widths at the top and bottom, creating a tapered configuration that provides different geometric properties at different locations. This local variation in panel dimensions allows the container to adapt to the non-rectangular shape of the product, eliminating gaps at the base while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs asymmetric end panels where the left and right end panels have different dimensions, specifically different widths at corresponding heights. This asymmetry enables the container to perfectly match the non-rectangular footprint of the product, ensuring complete contact between the container base and product base for reliable sealing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional rectangular containers are used, then manufacturing is simple, but stackability is reduced due to incomplete adhesion of base flaps
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered end panels create complete contact between the container base and product base, ensuring that the glue sealing acts on the entire base surface. This complete adhesion provides a stable foundation for stacking, as the sealed flaps remain securely attached and the stacked containers maintain proper alignment.
3Reliability
If tapered end panels are implemented, then complete adhesion of end flaps is achieved, but the container structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The end panels are designed with varying width parameters along their height, transitioning from a wider bottom to a narrower top (or vice versa). This continuous parameter change creates the tapered shape that enables complete flap adhesion while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece construction for each panel.
Data Source
AI summary
A container includes a base panel. An opposed pair of end panels extends from the base panel at opposite ends of the base panel. A front panel extends from the base panel and extends from a first one of the end panels to a second one of the end panels. A back panel extends from the base panel and extends from the first one of the end panels to the second one of the end panels. The end panels taper so top edges of the front and back panels are either longer or shorter than bottom edges of the front and back panels. Each end panel includes a plurality of overlapping end flaps adhered to one another. The end flaps of each of the end panels are connected to a respective one of the base panel and each of the front and back panel at respective fold lines.