Container holder with filtration unit for use in a nutritional preparation machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtration systems for preparing nutritional liquids, such as infant milk, are complex, costly, and prone to contamination due to the difficulty in installing and maintaining filter units, leading to increased disposable material and reduced user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A container holder with a movable filtration unit that includes a liquid outlet and a sealing member to prevent bypass, featuring a micro- or nano-porous filtering membrane and a protective casing, allowing for easy filter exchange and adaptation to different liquid volumes, reducing contamination risks and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a separate filter unit is used that can be reused several times, then the amount of disposable material is reduced, but the integration to the machine becomes complicated and the access to the liquid injector becomes uneasy
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit is merged with the container holder to form an integrated assembly. The holder body receives both the container and the filter unit, combining two separate components into one unified structure that is easier to operate and install in the preparation machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter unit is designed as a separate removable component from the holder body, allowing it to be independently accessed, installed, and maintained. This segmentation enables easy access to the liquid injector while maintaining the reusable filter unit integrated with the holder.
2Reliability
If a complex filter unit involving many pieces is used, then filtration performance is improved, but the device complexity increases and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filtration components (filtering element, sealing elements, housing) are merged into a single integrated filter unit assembly. This reduces the number of separate pieces while maintaining effective filtration performance through the coordinated design of these combined elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter unit incorporates different materials and structures in specific locations: a filtering element with specific pore sizes for filtration, sealing elements (O-rings) at critical interfaces to prevent bypass, and a structured housing for support. Each local region has optimized properties for its specific function.
3Ease of manufacture
If the filter unit is made separable from the capsule, then lower-cost capsules can be used, but the integration to the machine becomes complicated and requires complex assembling lines
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit is pre-assembled with the container holder in a separate, simpler manufacturing process. This pre-assembly creates a ready-to-install unit that requires minimal complex assembly operations when integrated into the preparation machine, simplifying the overall assembling line requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into independently manufacturable components: the container holder with integrated filter unit can be manufactured separately using simpler processes, then assembled with the container and installed in the machine. This segmentation enables lower-cost capsule production while avoiding complex integrated assembling lines.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a movable filtration unit is used that can be positioned to cover the container receiving seat, then hygiene is improved and liquid bypass is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit is designed to be movable relative to the holder body, allowing it to be positioned in different locations. This dynamic positioning enables the filter to cover the container receiving seat during operation to prevent liquid bypass, while allowing access during loading and unloading, achieving hygiene protection without requiring a completely fixed complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable filter unit is merged with the holder body through a integrated design that combines the filtering function with the holding function. This integration reduces the need for separate complex mechanisms while maintaining the ability to prevent liquid bypass through the movable filtering element.
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 enhances hygiene, reduces disposable material, and simplifies filter maintenance, while ensuring efficient and safe preparation of nutritional liquids by minimizing liquid bypass and contamination risks, thereby improving user convenience and reducing preparation time.
Implementation Method 1
The filtration unit comprises a micro- or nano-porous filtering membrane
Implementation Method 2
The filtration unit comprises a micro- or nano-porous filtering membrane
Implementation Method 3
a sealing member to prevent bypass
Data Source
AI summary
Container holder (3) for use in a nutritional liquid preparation machine (1) for the preparation of a nutritional liquid from the mixture of ingredients contained in a container and liquid supplied by the machine in the container; said holder comprising a body with a container receiving seat (31) arranged for receiving the container (4) in a defined container sitting position and a filtration unit (12); such filtration unit comprising a liquid outlet (25) wherein the filtration unit is arranged with the container holder to be movable between a first position in which the container receiving seat (31) of the holder is uncovered for enabling the loading and unloading of the container in the container holder and a second position in which the container receiving seat (31) is covered by the filtration unit for enabling the liquid outlet (25) of the filtration unit to be positioned at the inlet side of the container (4) when a container is present in the container holder (3).