Bevelled Slot Cap Design for Tamper-Evident Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inseparable caps for containers face challenges in meeting European directives regarding manufacturing complexity and waste reduction, while also needing to ensure the cap and tamper-evident ring remain united during opening and improve tearing resistance.
Innovation Solution
A cap design featuring a cylindrical body with helical ribs, a tamper-evident ring connected by frangible bridges, and connecting arms with beveled slots, along with an elastic retaining strip, which simplifies manufacturing and enhances structural integrity and user accessibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex manufacturing processes are used to create inseparable caps, then the cap and tamper-evident ring remain attached during opening, but manufacturing complexity increases and waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is divided into distinct functional elements: a cap body, a tamper-evident ring, and connecting arms with slots. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to monolithic complex structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arms integrate multiple functions: they connect the cap body to the tamper-evident ring, provide structural reinforcement, and incorporate slots for blade insertion. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies manufacturing.
2Reliability
If complex manufacturing processes are used to create inseparable caps, then the cap and tamper-evident ring remain attached during opening, but additional plastic material is required increasing waste
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting arms are positioned strategically at specific locations on the cap body where structural reinforcement is most needed. This localized approach provides the necessary strength to keep the cap and tamper-evident ring attached while using minimal additional plastic material compared to uniform thickening or complex multi-layer structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If the cap structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier and waste is reduced, but the strength and tearing resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The slots in the connecting arms are designed with curved, beveled profiles rather than sharp angular cuts. This curvature distributes stress more evenly during tearing operations, preventing stress concentration at sharp corners while maintaining structural strength. The curved geometry also simplifies the molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The slots are designed with specific dimensional parameters: they extend at least between the first end and second end of the connecting arms, have beveled profiles at both ends, and are positioned at specific distances from the edges. These parameter optimizations ensure sufficient strength while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
4Ease of manufacture
If beveled slots are used in connecting arms, then manufacturing is simplified and material is reduced, but the slots must be precisely formed requiring specific blade geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The beveled slots are designed to be self-forming during the injection molding process. The mold cavities are configured with the appropriate bevel angles, and the molten plastic automatically fills and conforms to these geometries without requiring post-molding machining or complex multi-step processes. This self-service approach achieves precise profiles while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a stopper (4) intended to seal an opening in the neck of a container, the stopper (4) extending around an axis of revolution (R) and comprising a cylindrical stopper body (22) which delimits a receiving space (24) of the neck of the container, a tamper-evident ring (42), frangible bridges (44), two connecting arms (48) each comprising a first end (50) connected to the tamper-evident ring (42) and a second end (52), opposite to the first end (50), and connected to the stopper body (22) (4); the connecting arms (48) each being separated at least in part from the tamper-evident ring (42) and from the stopper body (22) (4) respectively by a first slot (56) and by a second slot (58) which have a beveled profile.