Recessed label panels - Another view

Abstract

In response to K. F. Hahn's article on label recesses, the stress analyses were repeated for lightweight, non-refillable glass containers rather than open cylinders. Although recessed label panels induce stress concentrators at the ends of the label panel, they are not the highest stresses generated on the outside surface of the bottle. The maximum stress occurs in the bottom region of the container, yet bottles rarely fail in this highly stressed region. The recessed nature of the push-up feature in the bottom region of a glass container guards against surface abuse. The same justification applies for the label panels in the sidewall region of the container. In spite of the stress concentrators, the recessed nature of label panels protects the glass surface in the panel from abuse and hence failure. With the introduction of recessed panels into a bottle design, the shoulder and heel contact heights become natural contact sites and susceptible to handling damage. However, stresses at the shoulder and heel contact heights are reduced by the presence of the recessed panels. Thus, the performance of such a bottle will then be enhanced by confining surface damage to regions of low stress and regions of high stress from possible surface damage.