Vacuum-Sealed Nested Tray Packaging for Item Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging methods in electronic marketplaces fail to securely fasten items during shipment, leading to potential damage from external impacts and item shifting.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a combination of pressurized air compartments and sealing to create a partial vacuum within a package, which includes an outer tray and an inner tray, securely encloses items and protects them from external impacts by forming multiple air compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional packaging methods are used, then the packaging process is simple, but items shift and are damaged during shipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested trays where an inner tray is placed within an outer tray, creating multiple compartments. This nested structure provides multiple levels of containment that securely hold items while preventing shifting during shipment, directly resolving the reliability issue without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a vacuum sealing mechanism that creates a partial vacuum between the inner and outer trays. This pneumatic approach uses pressure differential to firmly secure items in place, providing reliable item security while maintaining a relatively simple packaging overall structure.
2Productivity
If items are loosely packaged, then the packaging process is fast, but items are damaged from external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates shock-absorbing material in the compartments of the inner tray before items are placed. This pre-positioned cushioning protects items from external impacts during handling and shipment while allowing for rapid packaging operations, thus maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum sealing mechanism creates a tight seal between trays that acts as a protective barrier against external impacts. The pressure differential generated by vacuum sealing provides additional cushioning and protection while maintaining packaging speed.
3Reliability
If a vacuum sealing mechanism is added, then item security is improved, but packaging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested tray structure integrates the vacuum sealing function into the existing packaging architecture. By placing the inner tray within the outer tray and sealing them together, the system achieves reliable item fixation through vacuum sealing without adding separate complex fixation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum sealing mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures items in place, provides shock absorption, and creates a protective barrier. This multi-functionality achieves reliable item fixation while minimizing the need for additional separate mechanisms, thus controlling overall complexity.
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 solution effectively secures items within the package, preventing shifting during shipment and providing superior shock-absorbing characteristics to protect against external impacts, capable of withstanding up to 180 kg-f of force.
Implementation Method 1
The inner tray and the outer tray are sealed to each other in a partial vacuum
Implementation Method 2
The package has a superior shock-absorbing characteristic to protect the item(s) in the package from external impact
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for automatically packaging item(s) are disclosed, as well as associated packages. The method includes generally four steps. First, an outer tray containing one or more item(s) is received. Second, an inner tray is placed in the outer tray over the one or more item(s), and the inner tray includes a plurality of preformed columnar compartments. Third, the inner tray and the outer tray are sealed to form at least a partial vacuum between an exterior surface of the inner tray and an interior surface of the outer tray. The item(s) are firmly secured in the at least partial vacuum such that the item(s) will not shift within the package during shipment. Fourth, a cover is placed over the inner tray to close the plurality of preformed columnar compartments to thereby form a plurality of air compartments, which collectively protect the item(s) from external impact.