Package Opening Closure With Cam-Guided Controlled Pouring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opening devices for pourable food packages require complex angular movements and multiple steps for opening and closing, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An opening device with a collar and closure system that allows for a combination of rotational and angular movements to control the opening and closing, featuring a cam and cam follower mechanism to simplify the operation, enabling a user to choose between rotational and angular movements for closing, and includes a cutter for membrane opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex angular movement mechanism is used to control the closure from closed to open position, then the opening device can achieve controlled pouring, but the operation becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The opening device is divided into functionally independent components: the collar remains stationary while the closure performs all opening/closing actions independently. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex angular movements of the entire assembly, allowing simple rotational operation of the closure while maintaining controlled pouring through the collar's fixed pouring outlet geometry
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the collar to control pouring (as in conventional devices), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the collar stationary and using the closure's rotation to control the flow. This inversion simplifies the operation to a single rotational degree of freedom while achieving the same controlled pouring function
2Reliability
If multiple opening steps are required to operate the closure, then the product can be protected during storage, but the opening process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is pre-configured in a locked closed position during storage, automatically protecting the product without requiring user intervention. Upon first use, a single rotational action of the closure simultaneously achieves both opening and positioning for controlled pouring, eliminating multiple sequential steps and reducing opening time
3Device complexity
If the closure is designed to rotate around a rotation axis, then the opening mechanism is simplified, but the closure cannot be securely closed back to the closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The collar acts as an intermediary element between the closure and the package body. It provides a fixed reference frame with a pouring outlet that works together with the closure's rotation to achieve both simplified opening mechanism and secure closing. The collar's stationary position compensates for the closure's rotational movement, ensuring reliable sealing when closed
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
Facilitates easy and intuitive control of the opening and closing process, reducing complexity and enhancing user experience while maintaining product integrity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The collar has a cam and a pair of cam followers protruding from an inner face of the closure and configured to interact with the cam during rotation of the closure around a rotation axis for moving the closure from a closed position to a partially open position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
There is described an opening device (3) comprising a collar (4) and a closure (6) coupled to the collar (4). The closure (6) is controllable between a closing position, an opening position and an intermediate position. The opening device (3) comprises a main cam (30) protruding from the collar (4) and one or more main cam followers (31) protruding from the closure (6) and configured to interact with the main cam (30) during a rotation of the closure (6) around the rotation axis (B). The opening device (3) further comprises an auxiliary cam (36) connected to the collar (4) and being spaced apart from the main cam (30) and one or more auxiliary cam followers (39) configured to interact with the auxiliary cam (36). Each of the one or more auxiliary cam followers (39) comprise a first elongated end portion (45), a second elongated end portion (46) and an intermediate elongated portion (47) interposed between and connected to the first elongated end portion (45) and the second elongated end portion (46). The intermediate elongated portion (47) is inclined with respect to the first elongated end portion (45) and the second elongated end portion (46).