Dispensing system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for free-flowing products, such as liquids and creams, lack effective mechanisms to prevent incorrect containers from being inserted, leading to potential spills and contamination of the dispenser.
Innovation Solution
The dispensing system incorporates coding elements on both the container and the dispenser, including recesses and projections that engage specifically to ensure only compatible containers can be used, preventing incorrect insertion and maintaining the closure in a parking position during container insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If simple container designs are used without coding elements, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but reliability is worsened due to inability to prevent incorrect container insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing coding elements in the form of projections and recesses at specific asymmetric positions on the container and dispenser. The container has a projection on its side wall while the dispenser has a corresponding recess, creating an asymmetric coding system that prevents incorrect containers from being inserted while maintaining simple overall design
Solution Approach 2:
The coding elements act as intermediary features that mediate between the container and dispenser. The projection on the container and recess on the dispenser (or vice versa) serve as intermediate coding structures that enable compatibility verification without requiring complex mechanisms, allowing the system to distinguish correct from incorrect containers through simple geometric interlocking
2Reliability
If coding elements are added to prevent wrong container insertion, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional coding structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetric positioning of coding elements to prevent wrong container insertion. The projection and recess are placed at specific asymmetric locations on the container and dispenser bodies, creating a unique geometric code that ensures only compatible containers can be properly inserted, thereby preventing spills and contamination while maintaining design simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The coding system is segmented into separate, simple geometric features (projections and recesses) rather than a single complex mechanism. This segmentation allows the coding function to be distributed across simple structural elements that can be easily manufactured and integrated into the container and dispenser designs
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional container designs are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but harmful factors increase due to potential uncontrolled spilling of contents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates asymmetric coding elements (projections and recesses) into conventional container designs. These elements are added as simple geometric features to the container body and dispenser, maintaining ease of manufacture through standard molding techniques while preventing uncontrolled spilling by ensuring only correct containers can be properly inserted and sealed
Data Source
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AI summary
Dispensing system for a flowable product, with at least one dispenser provided with a container receptacle (40) and with at least one container (1) containing the flowable product, which has a closure (10) that can be removed by moving the container (1) and in the container receptacle ( 40) is held upside down after the closure (10) has been removed, similar guide elements (11, 41) being provided on the closure (10) and on the container receptacle (40) which complement or lengthen one another when the closed container is inserted, with a depot (23) for the closure (10) is formed in the container receptacle (40), which retains the closure (10) in a parking position while the container (1) is being pushed in.