Animal Feed Container Bottom Opening Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feed cans fail to allow complete removal of wet feed without residue or soiling, and do not facilitate easy filling while maintaining the desirable properties of conventional tins such as high animal acceptance, long shelf life, stackability, and robustness.
Innovation Solution
A container design with a bottom surface and lateral surface forming a receiving space, featuring a removable opening element on the bottom surface and an inner coating to prevent adhesion, along with a separating agent applied as an aerosol to enhance detachment, allowing the feed to be emptied without tools or soiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealed can design is used, then shelf life and robustness are improved, but complete removal of feed without residue or soiling is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The can bottom is segmented into a sealed peripheral region and a central region with a removable opening element. This segmentation allows the feed to be accessed through the opening element while maintaining the sealed integrity of the peripheral region, enabling complete removal without compromising shelf life.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening element is pre-installed in the can bottom in a removable state. Before use, the opening element is removed to create an opening for feed access. This preliminary preparation enables complete feed removal while the can remains sealed during storage.
2Strength
If conventional adhesion to container surface occurs, then structural integrity is maintained, but feed detachment and removal become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The inner surface coating is applied with varying properties: the peripheral region maintains stronger adhesion for structural integrity, while the central region has reduced adhesion to facilitate feed detachment. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between strength and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A release agent is introduced as an intermediary substance between the feed and the container surface. This release agent reduces adhesion in the central region, enabling easy feed removal while the peripheral region maintains structural integrity through the container material itself.
3Reliability
If ventilation opening is provided in lid, then air circulation is improved, but container robustness and stackability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing ventilation in the lid as conventional practice, the invention inverts the approach by creating the opening in the can bottom. This inversion maintains lid integrity for robustness and stackability while still achieving air circulation through the bottom opening.
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
Enables the feed to be removed almost entirely without residue and maintains the desirable properties of conventional tins, ensuring easy opening and large-scale production while maintaining hygiene and attractiveness to animals.
Implementation Method 1
Aerosol as release agent
Implementation Method 2
application of an internal coating to the side of the casing and the base facing the receiving chamber can positively influence the adhesion of the feed to these surfaces and allow it to slide out easily
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a container (1) for receiving animal feed, in particular wet feed, comprising a base surface (3) and a lateral surface (4) protruding from the circumference of the base surface (3) such that animal feed is received in the receiving area (5) formed by the base surface (3) and the lateral surface (4) and can be emptied through an opening (6) formed by the lateral surface (4) circumference facing away from the base surface (3). The base surface (3) is operatively connected to an opening element (9) for opening a hole (10) in the base surface (3). The invention additionally relates to canned animal feed, said animal feed being received in the receiving area (5) of a container (1), to a method for producing a container (1), and to a method for filling a container (1) with animal feed and/or food.