Cap Gasket Annular Dosing With Air-Evacuation Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to apply an annular dose of material, particularly sealing material, to an object without forming air pockets in the transition zone between the base and annular wall, such as in a closing cap for containers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves separating an annular dose from a continuous flow of plasticized material, forming differentiated portions with cavities or bridges to reduce the risk of air pockets, by using a feeder and separator apparatus with a material outlet that includes alternating continuous and differentiated parts to create a gasket on the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an annular dose of material is applied to form a gasket on a base of an object and inside an annular wall, then sealing function is achieved, but air pockets form in the transition zone between the base and annular wall
Solution Approach 1:
The annular dose is segmented into multiple sections along its circumferential extent, with at least one section having a different radial thickness than others. This segmentation allows the material to be applied in a way that facilitates air evacuation while maintaining sealing integrity across the transition zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the annular dose are given different radial thicknesses to suit local requirements. Thinner sections are positioned to facilitate air evacuation from the transition zone, while thicker sections provide adequate sealing material where needed, creating a non-uniform but functionally optimized structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If the radial section of the annular dose is kept constant over the entire circumferential extent, then manufacturing is simplified, but air pockets form in the transition zone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention deliberately introduces local variations in radial thickness at specific sections of the annular dose. These localized differences are designed to create channels or pathways that allow air to escape from the transition zone during the application and compression process, while the majority of the annular dose maintains a constant radial section for manufacturing simplicity.
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
This approach effectively reduces the formation of air pockets by evacuating air, ensuring a seamless application of the annular dose, particularly in forming gaskets for closing caps, with the differentiated portions ensuring a secure seal.
Implementation Method 1
effectively reduces the risk of air pockets by evacuating air
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for applying a dose of sealing material to a closing cap of a container to form a gasket are disclosed, in which an annular dose is separated from a flow of plasticized material and is deposited on a base of the cap; the plasticized material is fed through a channel until it arrives at a material outlet extending along a circumferential direction; the annular dose comprises at least one differentiated portion, whereby a radial section in the differentiated portion of the annular dose is different from a radial section in another portion of the annular dose, where “radial” is understood to refer to an axis about which the annular dose extends in a circumferential direction; the presence of a differentiated portion decreases the risk of forming an air pocket between the sealing material and the caps.