Vacuum-Absorbing Synthetic Resin Bottle Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Synthetic resin bottles, such as PET resin bottles, face challenges in maintaining appearance and rigidity under varying pressure conditions during retort treatment and freezing processes, leading to potential deformation and loss of self-standing ability.

Innovation Solution

A synthetic resin bottle design featuring crests and support ridges in sigmoid curves, with slightly swelled panel walls that can reversibly deform into a dented shape for depressurization absorption and an out-of-round cross-sectional shape that expands to a perfect circle for pressure absorption, maintaining rigidity and appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the bottle uses a thin-wall structure for retort treatment, then the bottle can be sterilized at high temperature, but the bottle deforms into a swelled shape under inner pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesterilization temperatureVSAvoidbottle shape

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The bottle body is divided into multiple panels separated by support ridges. These panels can independently deform under pressure while the support ridges maintain the overall bottle structure, allowing the thin-wall design to be sterilized without complete bottle deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the bottle have different structural properties. The panels are designed with thinner walls for flexibility and sterilization resistance, while the support ridges have thicker walls for structural support. This local differentiation allows the bottle to withstand sterilization temperatures while controlling deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If the bottle has depressurization-absorbing panels for hot filling, then the bottle maintains good appearance under reduced pressure, but the bottle lacks sufficient expansion-absorbing function for retort treatment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebottle appearanceVSAvoidpressure adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The panels are designed to serve dual functions: absorbing depressurization during hot filling and absorbing expansion during retort treatment. The same panel structure that dents under vacuum can expand under pressure, making the bottle adaptable to both pressure conditions without requiring separate structural features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If the bottle is filled with frozen contents, then the contents volume increases, but the bottle deforms and loses self-standing ability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontents volumeVSAvoidbottle shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented panel structure allows localized deformation to accommodate the volume increase from frozen contents. Instead of the entire bottle deforming, the panels can expand independently into the headspace, maintaining the bottle's overall shape and self-standing ability while accommodating the expanded contents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Strength

If the bottle uses dented ribs, then thicker walls are obtained for connecting parts, but the bottle structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnecting part strengthVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ribs are designed with an asymmetric dented shape rather than symmetric projecting shapes. This asymmetric design creates thicker walls at the connecting parts between ribs and panels, providing enhanced strength where needed, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not significantly increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

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

The bottle effectively absorbs depressurization and expansion, preventing permanent deformation and maintaining a good appearance and self-standing ability across different pressure states, including pressurized, depressurized, and frozen conditions.

Implementation Method 1

panels which are provided with slightly swelled panel walls that are reversibly deformable into a dented shape

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure change absorption:

Implementation Method 2

the body having an upper end and a lower end and a plane cross-sectional shape of a circle, the circle being out-of-round over substantially an entire height of the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure change absorption:

Data Source

PatentUS7467725B2Synthetic resin bottle having a vacuum-absorbing function

Publication Date: 2008.12.23 YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO LTD

AI summary

A synthetic resin bottle includes a body having an upper end and a lower end and a plane cross-sectional shape of a circle, the circle being out-of-round over substantially an entire height of the body. The body includes crests disposed at three or more points on a circumference of the circle at substantially a same interval, wherein a central angle (α) position of each crest fluctuates similarly vertically along the height of the body. The body also includes support ridges formed by the crests in sigmoid curves and disposed at least in three substantially parallel rows at a same interval and panels disposed between adjacent support ridges and provided with slightly swelled panel walls that are reversibly deformable into a dented shape, as seen in cross-sectional plan views.