Siphon Line Outlet Sealing for Complete Beverage Bag Filling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gravity siphoning methods often result in incomplete filling of beverage bags, especially when they are housed within a rigid container, due to the open nature of the siphoning process.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus involving a siphoning line with a sealed outlet portion that extends through a dispensing passage in the beverage bag, forming an air pocket and sealing the dispensing spout to prevent pressure release, allowing the beverage to be siphoned into the bag until it expands to fill the rigid container housing, and then withdrawing the line to allow topping up.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If gravity siphoning is used to transfer beverage from reservoir to beverage bag, then the process is simple and requires minimal equipment, but the beverage bag cannot be completely filled when housed within rigid container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of siphoning processVSAvoidcompleteness of beverage bag filling

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A removable plug is introduced as an intermediary component to seal the dispensing spout during the siphoning process. This plug allows the siphoning line to pass through while preventing air leakage, enabling complete filling of the beverage bag within the rigid container. The plug acts as a mediator between the need for a sealed environment and the requirement for siphoning flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dispensing spout is segmented into a permanent spout structure and a removable plug component. This segmentation allows the plug to be removed for filling operations and reattached for storage and dispensing, providing flexibility to achieve complete filling while maintaining container integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the beverage bag is allowed to expand freely during siphoning, then complete filling is achieved, but pressure release through the dispensing spout prevents proper expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of beverage bag fillingVSAvoidpressure control during siphoning

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The removable plug serves as a pressure control intermediary by sealing the dispensing spout during siphoning. This prevents unwanted pressure release while allowing the beverage bag to expand completely within the rigid container. The plug maintains the necessary pressure differential to drive complete filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the siphoning line remains inserted in the beverage bag during storage, then complete filling is maintained, but the dispensing tap cannot be properly fitted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of beverage bag fillingVSAvoidability to fit dispensing tap

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dispensing spout is divided into a permanent spout structure and a removable plug. After siphoning, the plug is removed and the dispensing tap is fitted into the spout. This segmentation allows both complete filling and proper tap installation to be achieved sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The siphoning process is performed as a preliminary action before the final assembly with the dispensing tap. The plug is removed after siphoning to allow tap installation, separating the filling operation from the dispensing preparation in a logical sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Ensures complete filling of the beverage bag by maintaining pressure and expanding it to fit the container dimensions, preventing overfilling and allowing easy topping up once the siphoning is complete.

Implementation Method 1

forming an air pocket within the beverage bag adjacent the dispensing spout by extending the siphon line outlet portion into the beverage bag through the dispensing passage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pocket formation:

Implementation Method 2

siphoning the beverage, while the dispensing spout is sealed around the siphon line outlet portion, from the beverage reservoir into the beverage bag through the siphon line outlet portion to expand the beverage bag to fill inner dimensions of the rigid container housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSiphoning: Syphon

Data Source

PatentUS11613388B2Method and apparatus for siphoning a beverage into a flexible container

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 FERMTECH LTD

AI summary

A method of filling a beverage bag. The beverage bag is part of a beverage container that also includes a rigid container housing supporting a dispensing spout of the beverage bag, the dispensing spout forming a dispensing passage from an interior of the beverage bag to an exterior of the beverage container for dispensing a content of the beverage bag. The method includes running a siphoning line from a beverage reservoir to the beverage bag, removing the dispensing tap, extending a siphon line outlet portion of the siphoning line into the beverage bag through the dispensing passage, sealing the dispensing spout around the siphon line outlet portion to prevent pressure release through the dispensing spout around the siphon line outlet portion, and siphoning the beverage from the beverage reservoir into the beverage bag to expand the beverage bag to fill inner dimensions of the rigid container housing.