Cartridges dispenser

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dispensers for solid cosmetic and healthcare products are eco-unfriendly, prone to jamming, and do not allow for precise control over product quantity, leading to exposure and degradation of the product.

Innovation Solution

A cartridge dispenser with a recyclable casing, a pierceable membrane, and a movable collection compartment that can be manually controlled to dispense a precise amount of product, reducing exposure and jamming risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If solid products are contained in openable and resealed packages, then the product can be removed when necessary, but the product is periodically exposed to the external environment causing degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct removalVSAvoidenvironmental exposure causing degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a disposable cartridge containing the solid cosmetic product. The cartridge is sealed until use, then discarded after the product is depleted or used up. This eliminates the need for repeated opening and closing of packages, thereby preventing environmental exposure and degradation of the product while maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If a measuring cup is used to draw solid product from the container, then the product can be measured, but the time of exposure of the product to external agents is excessive causing decay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct quantity measurementVSAvoidprolonged exposure causing decay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the measuring function from a separate measuring cup and integrates it directly into the dispensing mechanism of the cartridge. A predefined cavity or chamber within the cartridge serves as the measuring element, allowing precise portion control to be dispensed directly onto the user's hand or application surface. This eliminates the need to open the package and use an external measuring cup, thereby minimizing exposure time to external agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Extent of automation

If the pusher and slide are not integral, then the retraction depends on timing means, but the device becomes prone to jamming and disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic retractionVSAvoidjamming and functionality disruption
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the pusher and slide into a single integral component. This unified structure ensures that when the user actuates the dispensing mechanism, the pusher and slide move together as one unit, eliminating the risk of misalignment or jamming between separate parts. The integral design maintains automatic retraction functionality while significantly improving reliability by removing the interface between separate components where jamming could occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If the slide is automatically brought to the initial position, then the device is simple, but the user cannot adjust or manage the instantaneous position for smaller quantities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic return mechanismVSAvoiduser control for variable quantities
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces a dynamic control mechanism that allows the user to override or modify the automatic return of the slide. The user can hold the slide in an intermediate position for a predetermined period to dispense smaller quantities, and then release it to return to the initial position. This dynamic control maintains the simplicity of the automatic return mechanism while adding adaptability for variable dispensing quantities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4302664A1Cartridges dispenser
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 TECS SRL
  • EP4302664A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4302664A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4302664A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cartridge dispenser (1) is provided, which comprises a cartridge (2) comprising a casing (20) including at least one pierceable membrane (21) and containing a solid, cosmetic or health care or food product in the form of either granules, powder, or powder granules, a container (3) defining a housing (30) configured to house the casing (20) and an opening (31) configured to face the membrane (21) when the cartridge (2) is inserted in the container (3), piercing means (4) protruding from the opening (31) towards the inside of the housing (30) and configured to pierce the membrane (21) when the membrane (21) is pushed against the piercing means (4), dispensing means (5) arranged downstream of the opening (31) so that they can receive the solid product when the membrane (21) is pierced by the piercing means (4) and including a collection compartment (50) configured to contain a predetermined volume of the solid product and movable along or around a predetermined direction (5a) relative to the opening (31) so as to define at least one loading configuration, in which the collection compartment (50) communicates with the opening (31), collects the solid product and is inaccessible from the outside, and an unloading configuration, in which the collection compartment (50) does not communicate with the opening (31) and is accessible from the outside, and a block (51) integral with the collection compartment (50) and configured to completely obstruct the passage of the solid product through the opening (31) at least when the collection compartment (50) is in the unloading configuration.