Bung Hole Tap Assembly Positioning for Flexible Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bung hole and tap assemblies for small flexible containers, such as 'bag-in-box' food liquid containers, face challenges with incorrect initial positioning, which affects the correct functioning of the tap and the automatic removal or mounting in packaging lines, especially during transportation and filling processes.
Innovation Solution
The bung hole and tap assembly incorporates a positioning and holding means, including a flat surface on an external ring for guiding and orienting the bung hole during manufacturing and filling, and recesses/projections for precise angular positioning of the tap body within the bung hole, ensuring constant and precise orientation and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tap is mounted temporarily in the bung hole during transportation and until arrival on packaging machine, then the tap can be securely transported and stored, but the tap cannot be positioned in its definitive orientation and may be prevented from operating correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into multiple independent elements: positioning projections on the tap body, corresponding recesses in the bung hole, and indexing features on the external ring. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function while maintaining overall positioning accuracy throughout the process from temporary mounting to definitive installation
Solution Approach 2:
The tap is preliminarily positioned and secured in the bung hole during transportation and storage using temporary mounting features. The positioning projections and recesses are designed to maintain correct orientation even in the temporary state, so that when the tap is definitively installed on the packaging machine, the positioning is already established and requires only confirmation rather than complete re-positioning
2Ease of manufacture
If the bung hole is placed on the bag-in-box without perfect orientation control, then the assembly process is simpler, but the tap indexing and guidance on filling machine cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The external ring is designed with asymmetric indexing features including positioning projections and recesses that create a unique correct orientation. The asymmetric design allows simple automated indexing on the filling machine while ensuring the bung hole and tap are always oriented correctly for both manufacturing and filling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The external ring acts as an intermediary element between the bung hole and the filling machine. It provides positioning projections that interface with the filling machine's indexing mechanism, while also having recesses that receive positioning elements from the bung hole. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall assembly process while maintaining precise orientation control throughout
3Productivity
If the tap body is not perfectly indexed during assembly, then the assembly process is faster, but the tap may be completely prevented from functioning correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning and indexing system is designed to be self-aligning and self-correcting. The positioning projections on the tap body automatically engage with corresponding recesses in the bung hole and external ring, creating mechanical constraints that guide the tap into its correct orientation without requiring complex external positioning equipment or manual adjustment. This self-service mechanism ensures functional correctness while maintaining assembly speed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a bung hole and tag assembly for small flexible containers, in particular for food liquids substantially consisting of a bung hole (2) of a container and a liquid dispensing tab comprising a body (1) for mounting in the bung hole (2) and dispensing a liquid. The inventive assembly is characterized in that it is provided with at least one means (3) for positioning and holding the bung hole (2) on the container and in a machine for producing containers or the similar and/or in a machine for filling and indexing the body (1) for mounting the tab in said bung hole (2). Said invention is particularly usable for producing small flexible containers, in particular for food liquids and for the dispensing tabs for said containers.