Closure With Moisture-Absorbing Means For Single-Dose Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-dose packages for sensitive powder products face issues due to moisture sensitivity, as the pre-incision in the rupturable bottom facilitates premature mixing and property changes, leading to lump formation and altered chemical properties.
Innovation Solution
A package design featuring a capsule with a moisture-absorbing means integrated into the cutter, which creates a fluid-dynamic seal to prevent moisture ingress and protect the absorbing material, ensuring the powder remains dry until use, while a flute-beak shaped cutter efficiently breaks the rupturable bottom for mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a pre-incision is provided in the rupturable bottom to facilitate breaking, then the breaking operation becomes easier, but the thickness of the rupturable bottom is reduced making it more susceptible to moisture ingress and premature mixing
Solution Approach 1:
A desiccant is introduced as an intermediary protective element within the reservoir. This desiccant actively absorbs moisture that might penetrate through the rupturable bottom, preventing the powder product from deteriorating while still allowing the pre-incision to function for easy breaking. The desiccant mediates between the need for easy breaking and the need for moisture protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant is pre-positioned in the reservoir before use, performing preliminary protection against moisture ingress. This preliminary anti-action prevents moisture from reaching the powder product even when the rupturable bottom has a pre-incision, counteracting the harmful effect before it can occur.
2Ease of operation
If the rupturable bottom thickness is reduced to facilitate breaking, then the breaking operation becomes easier, but the package becomes more vulnerable to moisture-induced deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant serves as a protective intermediary that compensates for the reduced thickness of the rupturable bottom. It absorbs moisture that would otherwise penetrate through the thinner bottom and reach the powder product, thereby protecting against moisture-induced deterioration while maintaining ease of breaking.
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant creates a protective environment within the reservoir that is inert to moisture. By absorbing moisture, the desiccant maintains a low-humidity environment that prevents the powder product from deteriorating, effectively creating a protective atmosphere despite the thinner bottom.
3Stability of the object's composition
If powder products are kept separate in single-dose packages, then product integrity is maintained, but moisture sensitivity causes lump formation and property changes
Solution Approach 1:
The desiccant acts as a protective intermediary between the external environment and the moisture-sensitive powder product. It absorbs moisture from the air and prevents it from reaching the powder, thereby maintaining product integrity and preventing lump formation and property changes while keeping the products separate.
Solution Approach 2:
The desiccant creates a protective inert environment within the reservoir that prevents moisture from reaching the powder product. This inert atmosphere maintains the physical and chemical stability of the powder, preventing deterioration while preserving the separation from the liquid product.
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 design effectively maintains the physical and chemical integrity of both products until use, preventing moisture-induced deterioration and ensuring efficient mixing without compromising the breaking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The capsule (10) comprises moisture absorbing means (7) positioned in the first chamber (2) to absorb moisture that penetrates into the first chamber (2)
Implementation Method 2
which creates a fluid-dynamic seal to prevent moisture ingress and protect the absorbing material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A closure comprising: a reservoir (4) which in turn comprises a rupturable bottom (40), said reservoir (4) being applicable to a mouth (60) of a container (6) destined to contain a first product; a cutter (5), positionable in front of the rupturable bottom (40). The closure (10) takes on at least a first and a second configuration; in the first configuration, the rupturable bottom (40) being intact and at least the reservoir (4) and the cutter (5) identifying, in combination, a first chamber (2) suitable for containing a second product; in the second configuration said rupturable bottom (40) being open such as to enable a mixing of the first and the second product. The closure (1) comprises moisture absorbing means (7) which in the first configuration of the capsule (1) is in contact with an inside of the first chamber (2).