Ceramic Bottle Shield with Enamel Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bottle shields made of paper or cardboard are prone to deterioration due to humidity and condensation, leading to illegibility and economic losses, and they are not reusable or resistant to liquids, with conventional ceramic shields having homogeneity issues due to incision techniques.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic bottle shield comprising a terracotta layer with high or low relief writing covered uniformly by an enamel layer, providing a non-absorbent, washable, and reusable surface that maintains visibility without color contrasts, achieved through a process of casting, drying, and firing in a kiln.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ordinary paper or cardboard shields are used, then the shield can be easily manufactured and applied, but the shield deteriorates due to humidity and condensation, becoming illegible over time
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is constructed as a composite structure with a paper or cardboard base layer providing the substrate, overlaid with a transparent protective coating layer that resists humidity and condensation. This composite structure combines the ease of manufacture of paper shields with the durability and moisture resistance of the protective coating, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and shield durability.
2Ease of manufacture
If paper shields with high absorbency are used, then the shield can be easily manufactured, but the shield absorbs liquids and becomes compromised, rendering the bottle not presentable
Solution Approach 1:
The inherently absorbent nature of paper is transformed from a harmful characteristic into a beneficial one. The paper's absorbency is used to its advantage by immediately absorbing any spilled liquid, preventing it from penetrating to the printed surface. The transparent protective coating then seals the absorbed liquid within the paper matrix, converting the potential harm of liquid absorption into a protective mechanism that shields the printed information from damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If ink writing is used on paper shields, then the shield can be easily manufactured, but the writing erases or disappears due to humidity and time
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent protective coating is introduced as an intermediary layer between the printed writing and the harmful environment. This coating acts as a mediator that allows the simple ink printing process to remain while protecting the vulnerable ink from humidity and condensation. The transparent nature of the coating ensures it does not interfere with the visibility of the writing, thus preventing information loss while maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Reliability
If conventional ceramic shields with incised characters are used, then the shield provides durability, but the incision technique causes loss of homogeneity and possible breakages
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical incision process is replaced with a chemical or deposition process. Instead of physically removing material to create characters, the invention uses ink printing followed by a transparent protective coating that is applied uniformly across the surface. This substitution eliminates the mechanical stresses and homogeneity problems associated with incision while maintaining the durability of ceramic material, achieving both manufacturing precision and reliability.
5Ease of manufacture
If single-use paper shields are used, then the shield can be easily manufactured and applied, but the shield cannot be removed and reused
Solution Approach 1:
The shield transitions from a static, single-use configuration to a dynamic, reusable system. The transparent protective coating is applied in a manner that allows for removal and reapplication, enabling the shield to be dynamically reused on different bottles. This dynamic characteristic maintains the ease of manufacture while adding reusability, as the coating can be removed without damaging the base shield and reapplied to create a fresh, legible shield.
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
The solution results in a durable, non-absorbent, and visually appealing shield that maintains the integrity of writing over time, allowing for three-dimensional designs and reusability, addressing the limitations of traditional materials and techniques.
Implementation Method 1
successive new firing in a kiln at a temperature of about 980° C so as to re-cover the said characters uniformly
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a new type of shield (2) for bottles of a rigid material. In particular, a rigid body (3) of a ceramic material reproduces writing characters (6) in high and/or low relief and is realized by the overlapping of at least a first layer (7; 1') of terracotta and a second layer (8; 8') overlapped with the said layer of terracotta (7; 7'). According to the present invention, the first layer (7; 7') reproduces the writing characters in high and/or low relief and the second layer is a layer of enamel (8; 8') overlapped with the first layer so as to cover at least the writing characters uniformly.