Fillable Closure Push Button Capsule Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fillable closures for beverages are complex in design, require left-hand and right-hand threads, and are difficult to assemble, making them inefficient for use with a single operation to empty a separately filled capsule.
Innovation Solution
A simplified fillable closure system with a deformable closing cap and capsule, featuring a push button that deforms to break a weakened sealing film, allowing for easy insertion and emptying of the capsule with a minimum number of parts, ensuring airproof and lightproof conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a threaded cap with piercing and cutting mechanism is used to empty the capsule, then the capsule content can be emptied, but the construction becomes intricate and requires left-hand and right-hand threads
Solution Approach 1:
The closure is divided into a closing cap and a separate capsule component. The closing cap contains the piercing and cutting mechanism, while the capsule is a separately fillable unit with its own sealing film. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is pre-filled and sealed with a sealing film before insertion into the closing cap. The sealing film is pre-provided with weakened lines that guide the breaking process. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex filling mechanisms within the closure itself.
2Ease of operation
If a threaded cap with piercing and cutting mechanism is used to empty the capsule, then the capsule content can be emptied, but the assembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The piercing and cutting mechanism is integrated into the closing cap structure itself, rather than being a separate component. The deformable upper face of the closing cap directly engages with the capsule's sealing film, combining the actuation and cutting functions into a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule's sealing film is designed with weakened lines that automatically guide the breaking process when pressure is applied. The film breaks along these pre-determined lines without requiring complex guidance mechanisms, allowing the capsule to self-regulate the emptying process.
3Ease of operation
If a single-action push button mechanism is used to empty the capsule, then the operation is simplified, but the sealing film must be designed with weakened lines
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing film is pre-provided with weakened lines during the capsule manufacturing process. These lines are created as part of the initial capsule formation, ensuring precise and consistent breaking patterns without requiring additional manufacturing steps later.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing film's physical properties are modified at the weakened lines to create controlled breaking points. The film thickness, material composition, or structural configuration is changed at these specific locations to ensure predictable breaking behavior when pressure is applied to the deformable upper face.
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 closure allows for efficient, single-action emptying of the capsule content while maintaining tamperproof and air/lightproof integrity, reducing assembly complexity and operational torque requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the closing cap features a deformable upper face that can be pressed downward while deforming in the centre whereby the upper face of the inserted capsule is also of a deformable design and can be pressed down in an axial motion so that the downward-facing sealing film of the capsule, which is provided with at least one weakened line, can be placed under tensile stress
Implementation Method 2
the downward-facing sealing film of the capsule, which is provided with at least one weakened line, can be placed under tensile stress, and characterised by the fact that the sealing film breaks or bursts along at least one weakened line
Data Source
AI summary
The fillable closure is used to trigger the emptying of a capsule that can be inserted in the closure and filled separately. The closure consists of a closing cap which can be attached to the neck of a container and in which a separately fillable capsule can be inserted in the closed state from beneath. The region above the inserted capsule on the closing cap forms a push button. A downwardly projecting protuberance is molded on the lower face. The protuberance abuts against the inserted capsule. Using pressure from above, the push button can be pressed to deform an initially convex shape as seen from above into a concave shape, the protuberance pushing the upper face of the capsule and the content thereof downward. A film, which forms the lower face of the capsule, is thus placed under tensile stress such that it breaks or bursts along weakened lines.