Bag-In-Box Adapter Kit for Water Dispensers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing water crock delivery systems face issues such as high management costs, environmental impact, and inefficiencies in handling and recycling due to the need for frequent sanitization, storage, and transportation of rigid vessels, which are not easily recyclable and require tamper-proof systems.

Innovation Solution

A system or kit that adapts existing water dispensers to accommodate 'Bag-In-Box' (BIB) vessels, allowing for continuous connection and eliminating the need for vessel withdrawal and refilling, with BIBs being made of recyclable materials and designed for mono-directional use, reducing storage space and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid water crocks are used for liquid delivery, then the vessels provide structural stability and reusability, but they require frequent sanitization, storage, and transportation which increases management costs and environmental impact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevessel reusabilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces reusable rigid water crocks with disposable Bag-In-Box vessels. The BIB system uses single-use flexible containers that are discarded after one filling cycle, eliminating the need for complex sanitization, storage, and tracking infrastructure while maintaining reliable liquid delivery functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If rigid water crocks are used, then the vessels can be refilled and reused, but they require significant storage space and complex tracking systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevessel turnover efficiencyVSAvoidstorage space
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing disposable BIB vessels, the system eliminates the need for storing and tracking multiple reusable crocks. Each BIB is used once and discarded, requiring minimal storage space compared to facilities needed for managing reusable vessels through multiple sanitization and redistribution cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of substance

If reusable water crocks are implemented, then the system can reduce waste, but the sanitization and handling processes increase operational costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial wasteVSAvoidsanitization infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adopts disposable BIB containers that eliminate the need for expensive sanitization infrastructure. While individual BIBs generate more waste material, they remove the requirement for complex washing facilities, chemical treatments, and labor-intensive handling processes associated with reusable crock systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Device complexity

If flexible BIB vessels are used, then storage space and management costs are reduced, but the vessels are subjected to direct atmospheric pressure requiring special design

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidatmospheric pressure impact
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible BIB vessels made of plastic material that can withstand direct atmospheric pressure. The flexible shell design allows the container to deform under pressure while maintaining integrity, enabling direct exposure to atmospheric conditions without requiring rigid protective structures or complex pressure regulation systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3215455B1Delivering device of liquids from water crocks equipped with a system or kit for replacing water crocks with vessels of the "bag-in-box" type for their delivery
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 VITOP MOULDING SRL
  • EP3215455B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3215455B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3215455B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A delivering device (12) of liquids contained in water crocks is described, equipped with a system or kit (1) for replacing the water crocks with vessels of the "Bag-ln-Box" BIB (14) type for their delivery, such system or kit (1) being adapted to perform the placement and connection of the BIB vessels (14) on the delivering device (12), and comprising: a main body (4, 17, 18); a plate (3, 16) adapted to place thereon at least one BIB vessel (14); a connector (10) and adapted to be connected with a delivering tap of a BIB vessel (14); a plug (8) adapted to be connected to a PIN (13) of the delivering device (12); a connecting tube (4.1, 17.1, 18.1) placed in the main body (4, 17, 18) and connected to the flexible hose (9) for communicating the BIB vessel (14) with the delivering device (12); and a check valve assembly (6, 7) for preventing liquid from re¬ entering into the main body (4, 17, 18).