Container Closure Assembly for Sterilant-Free Immersion Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current container closure assemblies face challenges in sterilization, particularly in vertical form-fill-sealing lines for pouches, as existing methods leave residual sterilants on surfaces in contact with food products, affecting product stability and requiring complex, time-consuming processes to remove these residues.
Innovation Solution
A closure assembly design featuring an inward tapering annular guide surface on the neck, which causes elastic deformation of the inner sealing ring, eliminating gaps between the ring and neck, allowing for efficient sterilization by immersion in a liquid sterilant bath and easy removal of residual sterilant, along with a tamper-evident structure for visual indication of first-time opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilization is performed by immersion in liquid sterilant, then thorough sterilization is achieved, but residual sterilant remains in gaps between components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts or eliminates the gap between the inner sealing ring and the neck by designing the sealing ring to extend to the apex of the neck. This removal of the gap prevents residual sterilant from being trapped, thereby solving the contradiction between achieving thorough sterilization and avoiding residual sterilant accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to remove residual sterilant from gaps after sterilization, the invention inverts the approach by designing the sealing ring to eliminate the gap in the first place. The sealing ring is configured to contact the apex of the neck, preventing any space where sterilant could be trapped, thus avoiding the need for complex removal processes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If complex sterilization processes are used to remove residual sterilant, then product stability is improved, but process time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic gap that causes residual sterilant accumulation, thereby eliminating the need for complex and time-consuming removal processes. By designing the sealing ring to extend to and contact the apex of the neck, the design ensures complete drainage of sterilant, achieving both product stability and process efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring design enables self-drainage of the sterilant through the product passage. The configuration allows the sterilant to naturally drain out without requiring additional complex removal steps, making the sterilization process simpler and faster while ensuring no residual sterilant remains to affect product stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sealing ring is designed with a gap for easy assembly, then manufacturing is simplified, but sterilization completeness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the gap that would compromise sterilization completeness by extending the sealing ring to contact the apex of the neck. This design maintains assembly ease while ensuring that no space remains where sterilant could be trapped, thereby achieving both manufacturing simplicity and sterilization reliability.
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 ensures thorough sterilization without residual sterilant, enhances sealing capacity, and provides a clear visual indication of the first opening, improving product stability and simplifying the sterilization process while maintaining product integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the inward tapering annular guide surface... causes an elastic deformation of the inner sealing ring and/or the neck
Implementation Method 2
The sterilant will then enter the product passage of the spout body via the lower opening of the passage and so contact all of the internal surfaces that are eventually exposed to the product
Implementation Method 3
Due to the absence of a gap between the inner sealing ring and the neck of the spout body at the apex no liquid sterilant will remain behind or can be easily removed (e.g. by drying with air) from the passage
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing pre-assembled and sterilized container closure assemblies that are each adapted to be secured onto a container including manufacturing pre-assembled container closure assemblies each adapted to be secured onto a container, injection molding a monolithic spout body of thermoplastic material, injection molding a manually removable rotational cap, securing the cap onto the neck of the spout body in a closed position of the cap, submerging each of the pre-assembled container closure assemblies in a bath of sterilizing liquid, and removing the container closure assemblies from the bath of sterilizing liquid, and allowing the sterilizing liquid to drain. A pre-assembled container closure assembly adapted to be secured onto a container is also disclosed.