Capsule Mixing Apparatus with Guide Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manufacturing apparatuses for cosmetic products require large drive motors to ensure effective mixing of contents from capsules, leading to increased costs, volume, and weight, making them complex and expensive.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features support surfaces that guide and orient capsule contents towards connecting passages, reducing the necessary pressure forces required for content transfer, allowing for a smaller motor and a more compact, cost-effective design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large drive motor is used to transmit pressure forces to the deformable compartments, then effective content migration between capsules is ensured, but manufacturing costs, volume, and weight significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent migration effectivenessVSAvoidapparatus weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A fluid intermediary is introduced into the connecting channel between capsules to facilitate content migration. The fluid intermediary transmits pressure forces more efficiently than direct mechanical transmission, enabling effective content migration with a smaller drive motor, thereby reducing apparatus weight while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical pressure transmission with a fluid-based pressure transmission system. The fluid intermediary carries pressure forces through the connecting channel, substituting for a heavy mechanical transmission system and enabling the use of a lighter drive motor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a large drive motor is used to ensure content migration, then mixing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid intermediary acts as a mediator that efficiently transmits pressure forces for content migration and mixing. This fluid-based transmission is more cost-effective than heavy mechanical systems, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining mixing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes expensive mechanical pressure transmission components with a simpler fluid-based system, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the same mixing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a large drive motor is used to transmit pressure forces, then content evacuation is ensured, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent evacuation capabilityVSAvoidapparatus structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical pressure transmission mechanisms with a simpler fluid-based system. The fluid intermediary naturally transmits pressure forces through the connecting channel, eliminating the need for complex mechanical components while ensuring reliable content evacuation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 configuration significantly reduces manufacturing costs, increases compactness, and decreases electrical consumption while maintaining effective content transfer between capsules.

Implementation Method 1

a support surface configured to guide and orient the contents of the capsule towards a connecting passage... the force vector exerted by the support surface on the capsule has a positive component in the direction of the connecting passage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure force: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentEP3641922B1Apparatus for producing a composition
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 SEB SA
  • EP3641922B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3641922B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3641922B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

An apparatus for producing a composition comprises a holding device (5) for holding first and second capsules (3, 4) comprising first and second deformable compartments (3.1, 4.1), respectively, which contain a first formulation and a second formulation, respectively; a first compression element (19) comprising a first compression surface designed to apply a pressure to the first deformable compartment (3.1) of the first capsule (3); and a second compression element (21) comprising a second compression surface designed to apply a pressure to the second deformable compartment (4.1) of the second capsule (4). The first compression surface is designed to conduct and guide the contents of the first capsule (3) to a first passage in the first capsule (3) that can be fluidically connected to the first deformable compartment and the second compression surface is designed to conduct and guide the contents of the second capsule (4) to a second passage in the second capsule (4) that can be fluidically connected to the second deformable compartment.