Carton Opening Device With Dynamic Thread Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic opening devices for carton packages require elongation of components to compensate for the fixed longitudinal movement of threaded elements, leading to increased dimensions, material consumption, and manufacturing costs, making them difficult to stack and assemble efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a spout with an outer thread featuring alternating orientations of grooves and ridges, allowing for a change in axial movement direction during unscrewing, eliminating the need for additional components and reducing material usage by using a cap with inner thread segments that change direction within the spout's grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If components are elongated to compensate for fixed longitudinal movement of threaded elements, then the automatic opening function is achieved, but the dimensions of components increase, making them difficult to stack and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the thread groove orientation changeable during the unscrewing process. The spout thread grooves transition from a first orientation (receiving the cap's inner threads during initial engagement) to a second opposite orientation (guiding the cap's axial movement during unscrewing). This dynamic reorientation eliminates the need for elongated components while achieving the automatic opening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the thread grooves by altering their orientation angle. The grooves are configured with varying orientations along the axial direction, allowing the cap to experience different mechanical constraints during different phases of the unscrewing process. This parameter change enables compact component design while maintaining the automatic opening capability.
2Ease of operation
If components are elongated to compensate for fixed longitudinal movement, then the opening mechanism functions, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing dynamic reorientation of thread grooves, the patent reduces the axial length required for the opening mechanism. This shorter component design directly reduces the amount of material needed for manufacturing the spout and cap, thereby decreasing material consumption and associated losses.
3Ease of operation
If components are elongated to achieve the opening function, then the mechanism works, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic groove orientation design enables a more compact component structure, which reduces material usage and simplifies the manufacturing process. Shorter components require less material, shorter machining times, and simpler assembly procedures, all of which contribute to lower manufacturing costs.
4Ease of operation
If additional components are added to enable direction change during unscrewing, then the opening function is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of direction change into the spout's thread groove structure itself, eliminating the need for separate components. The groove orientation variation is integrated directly into the spout's geometry, allowing the cap to change movement direction without requiring additional mechanical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout's thread groove structure serves multiple functions: it provides the threading engagement, guides the cap's axial movement, and enables the direction change during unscrewing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity by eliminating the need for dedicated components for each function.
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 solution simplifies manufacturing, reduces material consumption, and facilitates easier stacking and assembly by eliminating the need for elongated components, thereby lowering production costs and improving logistical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a screw thread is a helical structure that basically comprises a groove and an elevation or ridge applied to the surface of a cylindrical or slightly conical body to form a helical surface... the helical surface of the thread causes, in addition to a rotational movement occurring between these two elements, a longitudinal movement which also occurs between them
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic opening device for a carton package comprising a spout (3) and a cap (26), the device being provided with a plurality of protruding cutting elements (30) onto the internal face (29) of a cap element (27) thereof. The spout (3) is provided with a thread (2) having grooves (2c) and (2f) of opposite orientation and connected each other, within which pass internal screw thread segments (19) distributed equidistantly in the internal part of the elongate lateral wall (28) of the cap (26). The spout is applied in a carton package over a hole in the carton layer which exposes the aluminium layer. When the cap (26) is unscrewed from the spout (3) the first time it makes a downward axial movement and next the protruding cutting elements (30) are able to cut the aluminium layer of the carton package in order to open a passage for the content of the carton package.