Bottle Neck Clamp and Needle Dispensing Without Closure Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing systems often require removal of closures from containers, allowing air and other gases to enter, which can damage the beverage and affect quality, especially when dispensing from sealed bottles like wine bottles.
Innovation Solution
A container-mounted beverage dispensing device that uses a needle to introduce pressurized gas and extract beverage without removing the closure, maintaining the seal and minimizing gas introduction, featuring a clamp system to secure the device to the container and sensors to control gas and beverage flow based on container orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the closure is removed to dispense beverage, then the beverage can be accessed, but air and gases enter the container damaging the beverage quality
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is segmented into a main closure body and a separate access valve mechanism. The access valve can be opened independently to insert dispensing equipment while the main closure remains sealed, allowing beverage extraction without exposing the entire container to air and contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary access valve or port is introduced between the external environment and the beverage. This intermediary component allows controlled insertion of dispensing needles or tubes while maintaining the primary seal, preventing direct contact between air/gases and the beverage during the dispensing process.
2Productivity
If the closure is removed for dispensing, then beverage extraction is enabled, but the seal is compromised affecting storage
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into a permanent sealed portion and a removable access portion. The access portion can be opened for dispensing operations while the permanent sealed portion maintains the container's integrity, enabling multiple dispensing cycles without compromising long-term storage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
An access valve or port is pre-configured in the closure before dispensing operations begin. This preliminary arrangement allows subsequent dispensing actions to occur through the pre-established access point without requiring removal of the main closure, thus preserving seal integrity for future storage.
3Productivity
If gas is introduced into the container to dispense beverage, then beverage flow is enabled, but excessive gas exposure damages the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an inert or controlled atmosphere (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) instead of ambient air for pressurizing the container during dispensing. This inert environment prevents oxidation and chemical reactions that would damage the beverage, while still providing the necessary pressure differential to enable efficient beverage flow through the access valve.
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
Enables multiple extractions from sealed bottles without compromising beverage quality, allowing for extended storage and minimizing gas exposure, ensuring the cork remains sealed and the beverage remains fresh.
Implementation Method 1
introduce pressurized gas into the container or receive a flow of beverage under pressure from a pressurized container
Implementation Method 2
The at least one clamp arm may be spring biased to move relative to the base to exert an engagement force on the container neck
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A clamp of the dispensing device (1) may include a container engagement surface (43) arranged to engage and/or disengage the clamp from the container neck when the clamp is pushed downwardly or pulled upwardly relative to the container neck. The container engagement surface (43) may include a surface with a lower portion (43b) that slopes upwardly and inwardly, and an upper portion (43a) that slopes upwardly and outwardly relative to the container neck and that moves the clamp radially outwardly and away from the container neck as the clamp is moved vertically relative to the container neck. A latch (9) may maintain a body portion (3) of the dispensing device in an upper position, preventing needle (200) insertion, until a container is suitably engaged with the base portion (2) of the device, e.g., by a clamp. Sensors (81, 82) may detect engagement of a container with the device and/or insertion of a needle (200) into the container.